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X-TALKS  AND  OTHER  ADDRESSES 


BY 


G.  W.  HOENSHEL 

FOUNDER  OF 

THE  SHENANDOAH  NORMAL  COLLEGE 


1900 

PUBLISHED  BY 

MRS.  G.  W.  HOENSHEL 
NEW  MARKET,  VA. 


COPYRIGHT  1900 
BY 

MES.  G.  W.  HOENSHEL 


*//<>/  1 ** 


170 

» o'7  4. 


TO  THE  ALUMNI  OF 

THE  SHENANDOAH  NORMAL  COLLEGE 

THIS  BOOK  IS 

DEDICATED 

BY  THE  AUTHOR 


20096 


I 


CONTENTS 


“X-TALKS.” 

PAGE 

The  Choice  of  Friends 21 

Mastering  Difficulties 23 

Choosing  a Profession 26 

Self-Confidence  29 

Lack  of  Ambition 33 

The  Use  of  Language 36 

Sowing  Wild  Oats 39 

Just  for  Fun. 43 

Importance  of  Character 47 

School  Friendships 51 

The  Use  of  Books  54 

The  Use  of  Money  57 

School  Rivalry 63 

Respect  for  Authority 66 

Importance  of  Health 69 

Cheerfulness  73 

The  Waiting  Time 76 

A Talk  to  Girls.. 79 

The  Rewards  of  the  Student 82 

200966 


6 


CONTENTS 


OTHER  ADDRESSES. 

PAGE 

Why  We  Should  Be  Thankful 86 

On  the  Burial  of  Moses 90 


CLASS  ADDRESSES. 

Class  of  ’84 hi 

Class  of  ’85 115 

Class  of  ’86 120 

Class  of  ’87 122 

Class  of  ’88 126 

Class  of  ’89 129 

Class  of  ’90 133 

Class  cf  ’91 134 

Class  of  ’92 136 

Class  of  ’93 138 

Class  of  ’94 141 

Class  of  ’95 143 

Class  of  ’96 145 


INTRODUCTION. 


If  by  reading  these  ‘‘Talks”  your  burden  grows 
lighter, 

Your  hope  in  the  future  is  stronger  or  brighter; 
If  they  shall  inspire  but  one  noble  deed, 

Or  help  you  to  live  for  Christ  and  His  creed; 

If  strength  for  life’s  duties,  or  courage,  you  gain ; 
Then  we  shall  know  that  his  hope  was  not  vain. 
Although  imperfections  you  surely  can  find, 
Just  sift  them  all  out  and  leave  them  behind. 

And  the  hope  is  still  cherished  that  by  more  than 
half, 

The  good  will  outweigh  what  seems  only  chaff. 
Then,  whatever  the  fate  this  volume  shall  meet. 
If  it  strengthens  the  right  its  mission’s  complete. 
If  you  take  up  these  “Talks,”  as  critics  will  do, 
To  bring  imperfections  alone  to  the  view, 

You  will  find  them;  but  trusting  that  no  worthy 
line 

Will  be  as  a pearl  that  is  cast  before  swine, 

This  volume  is  sent  on  its  mission  of  love. 

May  it  be  to  each  youth  as  Noah’s  white  dove, 
Bringing  hope  to  each  one  who  resolves  to  be 
true; 

Whatever  the  work  his  hands  find  to  do. 

— Mrs.  G.  W.  Hoenshel. 


BIOGRAPHICAL  SKETCH. 


George  Washington  Hoenshel  was  born  at 
Mendon,  Westmoreland  county,  Pennsylvania, 
December  n,  1858.  His  early  education  was 
obtained  in  the  public  schools  of  that  State,  in 
which  he  afterwards  taught  for  several  years. 

After  graduating-  from  the  Normal  School  at 
Danville,  Indiana,  he  immediately  began  the  for- 
mation of  plans  for  the  organization  of  a similar 
school  in  Virginia.  The  strong  opposition  which 
at  that  time  existed  throughout  the  South  to  the 
principles  of  Normalism  and  coeducation  made 
this  a bold  step.  But  it  was  with  no  weak  and 
faltering  purpose  that  the  task  was  undertaken. 

The  place  chosen  for  the  experiment  was  Mid- 
dletown, a historic  spot,  located  on  the  Valley 
Pike,  about  twelve  miles  from  Winchester. 
Here,  in  the  fall  of  1883,  was  organized  the 
Shenandoah  Normal  College.  But  it  was  only  a 
few  years  till  this  child  of  genius  had  outgrown 
its  swaddling  clothes;  and  finding  it  impossible 
to  secure  suitable  accommodations  here,  the 
school  was  moved  to  Harrisonburg,  in  Rocking- 
ham county.  Here,  in  1887,  the  school  opened 
with  a good  enrollment.  The  rooms  which  had 
been  secured  here  were  far  more  commodious, 
yet  poorly  adapted  for  school  purposes. 

9 


IO 


BIOGRAPHICAL  SKETCH. 


The  school  continued  to  grow;  but  still  there 
was  felt  the  need  of  more  suitable  buildings.  It 
was  Mr.  Hoenshel’s  growing  ambition  to  secure 
for  the  Normal  a permanent  home  with  all  needed 
appliances  and  conveniences,  adapted  to  the 
needs  and  requirements  of  the  work.  This  led 
him,  in  1890,  to  accept  the.  offer  of  the  Basic 
City  Mining,  Manufacturing  and  Land  Com- 
pany, and  to  move  the  school  to  that  place,  where 
suitable  buildings  were  erected  and  given  free  of 
rent  for  a period  of  ten  years. 

The  long  cherished  hope  seemed  at  last  to 
have  been  realized.  But  the  triumph  was  of  short 
duration.  The  third  year  at  this  place,  and  the 
tenth  in  the  history  of  the  school,  had  opened 
with  encouraging  prospects.  All  hearts  were  full 
of  hope.  But  on  the  night  of  November  16,  1892, 
the  cry  of  fire!  fire!  rang  out  from  the  halls 
of  the  Shenandoah  Normal  College,  and  in  a 
few  minutes  the  beautiful  building,  with  almost 
its  entire  contents,  was  in  ashes.  Courage  fails 
me  to  relate  the  sad  story  of  blighted  hopes  and 
fondly  cherished  ambitions.  Let  him  whose 
heart  never  faltered  tell  it  in  his  own  hopeful 
words.  The  following  account  of  the  fire  ap- 
peared in  the  Normal  Index  of  December,  1892, 
under  the  head  of  “Normal  Notes”: 

“Since  the  burning  of  the  college  building  on 
the  night  of  November  16th,  we  have  received 
letters  of  sympathy  and  encouragement  from 
many  friends,  Time  does  not  permit  us  to  an.-’ 


BIOGRAPHICAL  SKETCH. 


II 


swer  all  these  letters  as  we  would  like,  and  so  we 
give  this  rather  personal  account  of  the  fire  and 
its  influence  upon  the  school. 

'‘The  college  building  was  a three-story  frame 
structure  erected  especially  for  the  Normal  by 
the  Basic  City  Mining,  Manufacturing  and  Land 
Company  in  1890.  It  contained  thirty-three 
rooms.  The  lower  story  was  used  for  recitation 
rooms,  dining  room,  and  kitchen.  The  two  upper 
stories  were  occupied  by  the  principal  and  his 
family  and  the  students. 

“The  fire  occurred  at  ten  o’clock  on  Wednes- 
day night.  It  was  discovered  by  some  of  the 
students,  who  observed  smoke  in  their  room.  At 
that  time  the  whole  attic  seemed  to  be  on  fire 
and  there  was  no  hope  of  saving  the  building. 
It  is  possible  that  the  fire  originated  near  the  roof 
from  the  kitchen  flue.  Nothing  could  be  done 
but  to  save  what  property  we  could.  Each  stu- 
dent took  his  own  trunk  from  the  building.  The 
girls  acted  with  remarkable  presence  of  mind. 
Some  of  the  students  lost  most  of  their  clothing 
and  others  nearly  all  their  books.  One  of  the 
girls  saved  everything  even  to  an  empty  ink 
bottle.  So  much  for  a level  head  in  time  of  dan- 
ger. The  writer  had  retired  and  was  awakened 
by  the  commotion  caused  by  the  students  remov- 
ing their  trunks  from  the  building.  The  first 
care  was  for  his  family  and  then  for  the  records 
of  the  school  and  other  personal  papers.  A part 
of  the  records  were  saved  but  the  library,  notes. 


12  BIOGRAPHICAL  SKETCH. 

* 

manuscripts,  all  were  lost.  We  saved  but  little 
more  than  the  clothes  on  our  backs  and  a part  of 
the  family  escaped  almost  naked.  Although  the 
stairway  was  burning,  much  might  have  been 
saved  by  cool  management.  Homes  were  freely 
offered  the  students  by  the  citizens  of  the  town, 
and  we  turned  from  the  glowing  embers  to  plan 
and  to  prepare  for  the  work  of  to-morrow.  The 
tall  chimneys  standing  amid  the  ruins  cast  weird 
shadows  among  the  surrounding  trees,  and  by 
many  were  regarded  as  monuments  of  the  proud- 
est work  of  the  Normal.  But  we  looked  not  to 
the  past  and  its  achievements  but  to  the  future, 
where  the  star  of  hope  still  shines  brightly. 

“Thursday  morning  the  work  of  reorganizing 
was  begun.  The  Rosenberger  building  on  Au- 
gusta avenue  was  rented,  and  partly  furnished. 
Thursday  evening  there  was  a meeting  of  faculty 
and  students  in  one  of  the  recitation  rooms  of 
the  new  building.  We  talked  of  the  past,  and 
planned  for  the  future.  All  were  hopeful  and 
signified  their  readiness  to  begin  work  again  with 
renewed  zeal.  After  invoking  divine  guidance, 
and  singing  “All  Hail  the  Power  of  Jesus’ 
Name,”  we  adjourned.  It  was  one  of  those 
strange  meetings  that  leave  lasting  impressions. 

“Friday  we  again  began  work.  There  was  a 
scarcity  of  books  and  no  blackboards,  but  in  time 
they  were  supplied.  Owing  to  the  difficulty  and 
the  disappointment  in  securing  furniture  the 
students  suffered  many  inconveniences  in  the 


BIOGRAPHICAL  SKETCH.  1 3 

new  building,  but  all  without  complaining.  We 
are  now  pleasantly  located  and  school  work  is 
moving  along  as  usual.  None  of  our  students 
left  us  on  account  of  the  fire,  and  others  have 
since  come  in.  The  writer  can  not  speak  too 
highly  of  the  loyal  assistance  of  the  faculty  and 
the  courageous  spirit  of  the  students  in  their 
determination  to  make  the  best  of  their  misfor- 
tune during  their  days  of  disappointment  and 
trial. 

“The  citizens  have  been  kind  to  us.  They 
have  rented  the  buildings  we  now  occupy  and 
supplied  many  of  our  immediate  wants.  Pro- 
fessor Sine,  W.  A.  Bowles  of  Hotel  Brandon, 
Dr.  R.  G.  Griffith,  J.  H.  Rankin,  and  H.  R. 
Hicks  were  especially  kind  in  furnishing  homes 
to  the  students.  The  Principal  and  his  family 
will  long  remember  the  kindness  of  Professor 
Sine  on  the  night  of  the  fire. 

“Early  Thursday  morning  one  of  the  ministers 
from  Waynesboro  came  to  see  us.  He  greeted 
us  with  a hearty  hand  shake  and  a cheering  “God 
bless  you,”  and  in  his  hand  there  was  the  crisp 
paper  that  secures  comforts  everywhere.  He  was 
prompted  by  no  ties  of  friendship,  but  by  the 
emotions  of  a common  humanity  and  the  pre- 
cepts of  a divine  religion.  Help  was  not  desired, 
and  such  offers  of  assistance  were  at  first  refused, 
but  when  they  came  in  various  forms  and  from 
different  sources,  we  could  but  accept  them  in 
the  spirit  in  which  they  were  sent.  We  recognize 


14 


BIOGRAPHICAL  SKETCH. 


an  overruling  power  in  the  destruction  of  our 
home,  and  it  would  be  unjust  not  to  acknowledge 
a beneficent  hand  in  these  kind  offers  of  assist- 
ance. God  sometimes  uses  human  means  to 
accomplish  divine  ends.  Financially  our  loss 
was  not  great,  but  it  was  our  home,  and  we  lost 
all.  Notes  and  manuscripts  that  represented 
many  weary  hours  of  investigation  and  thought 
have  been  destroyed  and  can  never  be  replaced. 
Mementoes  of  the  past  and  gifts  of  friends  in  one 
night  are  reduced  to  smoke  and  ashes,  and  we 
go  out  homeless  and  almost  penniless  in  the 
world.  We  still  have  hope  and  courage  and  take 
up  anew  the  tangled  thread  of  life  and  shall  press 
forward  to  nobler  achievements  in  the  future. 

‘‘It  was  not  carelessness  on  our  part  that  the 
furniture  was  not  insured.  We  were  insured  by 
the  agent,  but' as  he  assumed  authority  that -did 
not  belong  to  him  we  lose  what  might  have  been 
saved  from  the  general  ruin. 

“We  have  received  many  compliments  for  the 
promptness  with  which  school  work  was  begun 
after  the  fire.  We  claim  no  credit  for  that.  We 
did  no  more  than  we  would  expect  the  majority 
of  our  students  to  do  under  similar  circum- 
stances. And  then  it  was  no  time  for  thought. 
It  was  a time  for  action,  prompt  and  decisive. 
We  had  entered  into  agreements  with  the  stu- 
dents and  the  faculty,  and  these  must  be  made 
good,  however  great  the  individual  loss.  And 
then  there  was  no  way  back.  When  the  Normal 


BIOGRAPHICAL  SKETCH. 


15 


was  organized  in  1883  it  was  our  aim  to  make 
it  equal  to  any  institution  of  learning  in  the 
South,  and  having  put  our  hands  to  the  plow  we 
could  not  even  look  back.  It  was  ‘Normal  grit’ 
that  aided  in  our  organization  of  the  Normal, 
and  it  was  ‘Normal  grit’  that  helped  us  in  this 
disaster.  We  are  now  in  a condition  to  make 
good  all  of  our  advertisements  and  are  already 
making  arrangements  for  a large  attendance 
when  the  spring  term  opens.  We  mean  to  fur- 
nish accommodations  for  all  who  come.  From 
the  ruins  of  our  home  the  Normal  rises  like  the 
Phoenix  of  old  and  will  stand  pre-eminent  among 
the  favored  schools  of  the  State.  The  stars  and 
stripes  never  floated  more  majestically  in  the 
sweet  winds  of  heaven  than  when  our  flag  was 
unfurled  to  the  breeze  on  Thursday  morning  to 
convince  those  who  doubted  that  the  Normal 
still  lived. 

“Plans  are  now  being  matured  by  which  we 
will  secure  more  durable  buildings  and  increased 
facilities  for  carrying  on  our  work.  We  look 
not  back  but  forward.  We  talk  not  of  the  past 
but  of  the  future.  The  Normal  rises  triumphant 
from  the  ruins  and  invites  those  who  look  up 
and  aspire  to  enroll  their  names  among  those  of 
the  students.  If  you  are  backward  we  will  impart 
knowledge;  if  you  are  weak  we  will  give 
strength;  if  you  are  indifferent  we  will  arouse 
enthusiasm;  and  if  you  are  discouraged  we  will 
inspire  "life.” 


i6 


BIOGRAPHICAL  SKETCH. 


The  accommodations  thus  secured  were,  of 
course,  only  temporary.  The  problem  of  find- 
ing a new  home  was  now  to  be  solved.  The 
“boom”  which,  a few  years  before,  had  swept 
through  the  valley  had  subsided,  and  left  busi- 
ness in  a state  of  stagnation.  Indeed,  it  may  be 
truthfully  asserted  that  the  raid  of  the  “boom” 
of  the  early  90’s  was  no  less  disastrous  than  that 
of  Sheridan  in  ’64.  In  this  state  of  affairs  the 
Land  Company  was  unable  to  replace  the  build- 
ing which  had  been  destroyed.  The  outlook  was 
by  no  means  encouraging,  and  a less  determined 
heart  would  have  given  up  in  despair. 

After  a careful  search  and  thoughtful  consid- 
eration, a beautiful  and  healthful  location  was 
found  and  selected  at  Reliance,  Warren  county, 
Va.  Ample  buildings  were  at  once  erected;  and 
here  The  Shenandoah  Normal  College  began 
its  new  career  in  the  fall  of  ’93;  and  here  it  still 
lives  and  flourishes,  with  brighter  and  ever 
brightening  prospects  for  the  future. 

We  have  sketched  thus  briefly  the  history  of 
the  school,  for  it  is  inseparably  connected  with 
the  life  of  its  founder;  and  serves  to  emphasize, 
better  than  anything  else  could  do,  his  indomit- 
able courage  and  faith  in  the  final  triumph  of  the 
right. 

As  a teacher  he  was  unique,  and  as  an  orator 
he  was  a man  of  peculiar  power  and  magnetism. 
His  words,  as  well  as  the  spirit  and  enthusiasm 
with  which  they  were  uttered,  carried  conviction 


BIOGRAPHICAL  SKETCH. 


17 


to  the  heart  of  him  who  sat  beneath  the  magic 
spell.  He  had  that  peculiar  power,  which  un- 
fortunately so  few  public  speakers  possess,  of 
imparting  his  own  zeal  and  inspiration  to  his 
hearers.  Many  orators  can  delight  an  audience; 
but  he  sought  not  to  please  but  to  help.  In  doing 
that  he  did  both.  Whether  one  sat  beneath  the 
matchless  power  of  his  oratory  or  received  in- 
struction from  him  in  the  class  room,  he  could 
not  deny  the  influence  and  power  of  his  person- 
ality. 

As  a man  of  business  he  was  prompt  and  de- 
cisive. He  did  not  believe  in  wasting  words.  He 
always  knew  what  he  wanted  to  say,  and  said 
it;  he  quickly  decided  what  he  wished  to  do,  and 
did  it  without  taking  counsel  of  any  one.  This 
led  him  to  make  mistakes  which  at  times  brought 
down  upon  him  harsh,  unrelenting  criticism. 
But  this  very  quality  was  the  strongest  element 
of  his  genius.  Without  it  his  biography  would 
not  have  been  worth  writing.  As  for  the  criti- 
cism, he  cared  not  for  that  so  long  as  his  cher- 
ished ideal  was  being  attained;  that  of  helping 
young  men  and  women  to  a higher  and  better 
life. 

As  a worker  he  was  untiring.  He  never  knew 
what  it  was  to  have  an  idle  moment.  His  favor- 
ite motto  was:  “Better  to  wear  out  than  to  rust 
out.”  But  in  avoiding  that  danger  he  sometimes 
went  fatally  near,,  to  the  opposite  extreme,  for- 
getting that  it  is  also  possible  to  tear  out.  His 


i8 


BIOGRAPHICAL  SKETCH. 


zeal  too  frequently  led  him  to  over  exertion;  the 
consequences  of  which  are  always  fatal.  Besides 
teaching  seven  hours  a day,  he  personally  trans- 
acted all  the  business  of  the  school,  managing 
the  boarding  hall,  editing  The  Normal  Index 
and  Teachers’  Gazette,  delivering  frequent  lec- 
tures, and  carrying  a heavy  correspondence.  His 
mail  he  frequently  carried  in  his  pocket  all  day 
before  finding  time  to  read  it.  When  going  out 
to  lecture,  or  on  any  business  connected  with 
the  school,  he  deliberately  chose  a night  train, 
whenever  possible,  in  order  to  save  time.  Even 
then  he  did  not  waste  a moment,  but  carried  with 
him  some  book  to  read,  or  a bunch  of  examina- 
tion papers  to  look  over  and  grade. 

Thus  were  spent  the  active  years  of  this  heroic 
life,  until  the  hand  of  that  dread  disease,  con- 
sumption, was  laid  upon  him,  and  he  was  com- 
pelled to  lay  down  his  self-chosen  task.  For 
several  years  he  was  unable  to  do  full  work,  but 
it  was  only  a few  months  before  his  death  that 
he  gave  up  class  room  work  entirely  and  placed 
most  of  the  business  of  the  school  in  other  hands. 
He  continued,  however,  to  write  letters  and 
“talks”  almost  to  the  end.  This  he  did  while 
lying  in  bed.  His  last  letter  to  a prospective 
student  was  written  on  April  n,  1896;  and  on 
Sunday,  April  12,  death  claimed  his  victim,  and 
the  scepter  fell  from  those  hands  which  had 
wielded  it  so  nobly,  to  be  caught  up  and  wielded 
by  younger  hands  in  accordance  with  his  fondly 


BIOGRAPHICAL  SKETCH. 


19 


cherished  hope.  The  student  who  received  that 
last  letter  arrived  on  Monday,  in  time  to  see  its 
writer  laid  away  to  rest  in  the  little  church  yard 
across  the  road,  in  sight  of  the  institution  which 
his  hands  had  reared,  and  which  yet  forms  the 
proudest  monument  of  his  life. 

A devoted  wife  and  three  bright  and  loving 
children  survive  him.  Miss  Carrie  D.  Moffett, 
whom  he  married  on  the  second  of  July,  1885, 
was  herself  a student  of  the  Normal,  and  a mem- 
ber of  the  Teachers’  Class  of  that  year.  After 
receiving  from  his  hands  the  certificate  of'  her 
graduation  she  gave  her  hand  to  him  in  mar- 
riage; and  before  that  astonished  audience,  tak- 
ing the  vows  which  made  them  one,  they  started 
out  together  upon  the  untried  future — that  future 
which,  to  use  his  own  favorite  expression,  was  to 
be  so  strangely  mingled  with  joy  and  sorrow, 
success  and  failure.  In  his  help-meet  he  found  a 
truly  noble  and  loving  companion;  a zealous 
sharer  of  all  his  labors  and  hopes,  a true  sym- 
pathizer in  all  his  misfortunes  and  troubles,  and 
a devoted  attendant  in  his  affliction.  At  his 
death  the  burden  of  the  school  fell  upon  her 
shoulders  for  the  remainder  of  the  year,  when  it 
was  reorganized  under  a different  management. 
This  burden  she  patiently  and  faithfully  bore, 
for  it  was  a labor  of  love.  Her  address  before 
the  thirteenth  graduating  class  is  appended  to 
this  volume  at  the  earnest  solicitation  of  the 
writer  of  this  sketch. 


20 


BIOGRAPHICAL  SKETCH. 


We  earnestly  commend  the  life  and  example 
of  G.  W.  Hoenshel  to  every  aspiring  young  man 
and  woman.  It  is  the  earnest  hope  of  those  who 
are  sending  out  this  little  volume  that  all  who 
knew  him,  and  those  who  did  not,  may  read  the 
inspiring  story  of  his  life,  and  especially  his  own 
helpful  words  in  the  following  pages,  and  receive 
new  courage  and  inspiration. 

M.  L.  FEARNOW. 


“X-TALKS.” 

i. 


THE  CHOICE  OF  FRIENDS. 

The  old  adage  that  “birds  of  a feather  flock 
together”  is  true.  A person  is  known  by  the 
company  he  keeps.  The  evil  and  the  good  form 
no  intimate  associations.  Virtue  and  vice  have 
no  dealings  with  each  other.  A company  of 
young  persons  will  all  become  evil  or  all  good. 
The  only  way  to  avoid  the  influence  of  evil  asso- 
ciates is  to  keep  away  from  them.  No  one  can 
have  evil  companions  without  becoming  like 
them. 

I want  no  better  test  of  a young  man’s  char- 
acter than  to  know  his  associates.  When  a 
student  enters  school  he  can  select  his  own 
friends.  If  he  goes  with  those  who  always  do 
good  work  and  respect  authority  we  know  he  is 
all  right,  but  if  he  selects  his  friends  from  those 
who  neglect  their  lessons  and  delight  to  loaf 
around  the  stores  with  the  men  of  the  baser 
sort  in  the  neighborhood,  we  know  that  he  needs 
to  be  watched.  A student  always  determines  his 
own  standing  in  school  by  his  own  conduct.  He 
can  stand  among  the  best  or  stand  with  the  low- 


22 


X-TALKS  AND  OTHER  ADDRESSES. 


est.  As  it  is  in  school  so  is  it  elsewhere.  A 
person’s  standing  in  the  community  is  deter- 
mined by  his  associates.  When  going  into  a 
strange  place  to  teach  or  for  any  other  purpose 
you  cannot  be  too  careful.  The  people  will  re- 
ceive you  kindly,  and  by  your  associates  you 
will  either  gain  or  lose  their  respect.  Don’t  be  in 
a hurry  in  selecting  your  friends.  Treat  all 
kindly,  be  courteous  always,  be  slow  in  forming 
friendships.  If  circumstances  should  place  you 
among  evil  associates,  avoid  them,  come  out  from 
them.  Your  character  is  of  too  much  importance 
to  be  imperiled  by  coming  in  daily  contact  with 
persons  of  corrupt  minds  and  morals. 

In  selecting  your  friends  consider  well  their 
habits.  Avoid  those  who  use  tobacco  in  any 
form.  If  you  do  not  smoke  it  is  not  pleasant  to 
be  in  company  with  a number  of  young  persons 
who  do  smoke.  If  any  of  you  now  use  tobacco, 
stop  it.  It  does  you  no  good;  it  is  expensive, 
and  it  is  disagreeable  to  many  persons. 

Do  not  select  your  friends  from  those  who 
enter  saloons  or  gambling  halls.  Your  friends 
must  not  go  where  you  cannot  enter.  Avoid 
those  who  use  profane  or  obscene  language.  Go 
not  with  those  who  never  attend  church  and  who 
laugh  at  things  sacred.  Have  no  friendship  with 
those  who  spend  more  than  they  earn,  and  prom- 
ise more  than  they  can  do.  Keep  away  from 
those  who,  in  their  dealings  with  others,  disre- 
gard the  principles  of  strict  integrity.  The  vain, 


MASTERING  DIFFICULTIES.  23 

the  foolish,  and  the  careless  can  do  you  no  good. 
Select  not  your  friends  from  among  them. 

Choose  your  friends  from  those  who  live  as 
you  do,  think  as  you  do,  and  have  somewhat  the 
same  ideas  of  life  as  you  have.  Congeniality  of 
disposition  always  makes  fast  friends.  It  is  not 
necessary  that  friends  should  always  agree.  In 
fact  it  is  well  some  times  that  they  should  have 
different  views  upon  many  subjects.  It  is  im- 
portant that  they  should  be  candid  and  sincere; 
more  desirous  for  truth  than  contention.  When 
two  persons  earnestly  seek  for  truth,  they  can- 
not be  far  apart. 

But  if  you  would  have  friends  you  must  be 
true  to  your  friends.  You  must  be  worthy  of 
friendship,  and  endeavor  to  be  a help  and  an 
inspiration  to  all.  “The  friends  you  have  tried 
and  their  adoption  proved,  bind  to  thyself  with 
hooks  of  steel.” 


II. 

MASTERING  DIFFICULTIES. 

The  great  object  of  a student’s  life  is  to  learn 
to  master  difficulties.  It  is  not  intended  that 
school  work  should  be  easy.  Were  the  teachers 
to  solve  all  the  difficult  problems  it  would  do 
you  no  good — you  would  obtain  no  strength. 
School  life  is  a time  for  labor  and  not  for  pleas- 
ure. Were  it  possible  for  me  to  remove  the 
difficulties  from  your  way,  I would  not  do  so. 


24  X-TALKS  AND  OTHER  ADDRESSES. 

I delight  in  giving  you  hard  lessons.  I like  to 
see  you  do  your  best.  I would  rather  you  would 
fail  in  recitation  after  faithful  study,  than  de- 
pend upon  some  other  person  to  do  the  work  for 
you.  We  obtain  strength  only  by  doing  that 
which  requires  exertion.  To  do  only  that  which 
is  easy  tends  to  weaken  us. 

I am  aware  that  you  are  inclined  to  think  that 
the  work  is  sometimes  too  difficult.  That  may  be 
so.  It  may  not  be  possible  for  you  to  master 
all  the  difficulties  that  come  up  in  school  work, 
but  you  can  always  do  your  best.  To  try  earn- 
estly, even  though  you  do  not  succeed,  will  make 
you  stronger.  It  is  not  expected  that  you  can 
master  all  things.  What  I would  especially  urge 
upon  you  is  to  form  the  habit  of  mastering  as  you 
go.  One  lesson  well  learned  will  make  the  next 
one  easier,  while  a neglected  lesson  will  render 
others  more  difficult.  If  you  leave  difficulties  be- 
hind you,  you  cannot  tell  when  they  may  cause 
you  trouble ; for  they  will  be  sure  to  overtake  you 
sometime.  The  wise  general  leaves  no  enemy 
behind  him  when  he  invades  a country. 

You  know  not  what  you  can  accomplish  until 
you  try.  Many  things  that  now  seem  impossible 
to  you  will  seem  easy  when  you  put  forth  the 
proper  effort.  Each  day  has  its  own  duty,  and 
doing  well  the  work  before  you  will  enable  you 
to  master  all  difficulties.  The  danger  is  in  the 
first  neglect  of  duty.  Form  the  habit  of  always 
doing  your  best.  Review  each  day’s  work,  but 


MASTERING  DIFFICULTIES. 


25 


do  not  worry  over  the  result.  This  is  a time  of 
preparation  for  life’s  work.  How  well  you  pre- 
pare for  each  day’s  duty  will  determine  how  well 
you  will  succeed  in  your  chosen  work.  Every 
difficult  problem  solved,  or  sentence  translated, 
will  make  you  stronger. 

Many  persons  do  not  know  how  to  study.  A 
student  once  remarked  to  me  that  he  had  read 
his  lessons  over  six  times  and  did  not  know  them. 
What  a waste  of  time  and  energy!  He  did  not 
study.  He  might  read  a lesson  over  twenty 
times  in  the  same  manner  and  still  not  know  any- 
thing about  it.  Too  often  a student  attempts  to 
prepare  a lesson  and  think  about  something  else 
at  the  same  time.  A few  minutes  of  hard  study 
will  accomplish  more  than  hours  of  careless  read- 
ing. Concentration  is  the  secret  of  intellectual 
strength.  Devote  all  your  energies  to  the  les- 
sons before  you.  Think  about  nothing  else.  One 
careful  reading  and  study  of  a lesson  ought  to 
enable  you  to  master  all  the  important  points. 
Do  not  attempt  to  study  any  lesson  when  you 
are  thinking  of  something  else.  It  is  simply 
a waste  of  time.  Form  the  habit  of  controlling 
your  mind.  Do  not  build  air  castles  when  you 
ought  to  be  studying.  Bring  all  your  faculties 
to  bear  upon  the  subject  before  you,  and  many 
of  the  difficulties  will  soon  disappear.  It  is  pos- 
sible to  take  a piece  of  ice  and  so  concentrate 
the  rays  of  the  sun  as  to  cause  fire.  So  the  ener- 
gies of  the  mind  may  be  concentrated  until  the 


26  X-TALKS  AND  OTHER  ADDRESSES. 

impossible  is  almost  accomplished.  Master  your- 
self. Do  not  be  discouraged  until  you  are  sure 
you  have  done  your  best. 

Hard  study  is  the  way  to  make  a lesson  easy. 
Do  not  deceive  yourselves  by  using  keys  and 
translations.  Strength  comes  only  from  undi- 
vided exertion.  If,  while  in  school,  you  form  the 
habit  of  relying  upon  others,  it  will  be  an  element 
of  weakness  to  you  at  the  time  when  it  is  most 
important  for  you  to  be  strong.  The  only  way 
to  overcome  difficulties  is  to  master  them.  When 
the  king  brought  his  son  to  the  Grecian  phil- 
osopher to  have  him  taught  geometry,  and  asked 
that  the  work  might  be  made  easier  for  him  than 
for  others,  because  he  was  of  noble  birth,  the 
philosopher  replied,  that  there  is  no  royal  road 
to  geometry,  that  those  who  would  acquire  the 
knowledge  must  put  forth  the  effort.  If  you 
would  enjoy  the  pleasures  of  a student’s  life, 
conquer  self.  Yield  not  to  difficulties,  and  do 
well  the  work  of  each  day. 

j 

III. 

CHOOSING  A PROFESSION. 

Every  person  can  do  some  one  thing  well. 
Failure  is  not  always  an  indication  of  weakness. 
It  is  frequently  the  result  of  engaging  in  the 
wrong  work.  Those  who  fail  at  one  thing  might 
succeed  at  something  else.  Success  in  life  de- 


CHOOSING  A PROFESSION.  27 

pends  to  a very  great  extent  upon  the  correct 
choice  of  a profession.  It  is  not  always  easy 
for  a young  person  to  choose  a profession,  and 
yet  it  is  important  that  a choice  should  be  made 
early  in  life.  Each  one  of  you  should  labor  for 
some  special  purpose.  If  you  have  not  selected 
your  life’s  work,  let  me  urge  you  to  do  so  now. 
It  will  give  you  strength  and  make  success  more 
certain.  Many  young  persons  waste  the  best 
years  of  life  by  simply  drifting. 

As  a rule,  you  will  succeed  best  at  the  work 
you  like  to  do.  Before  selecting  a profession 
study  yourself  well.  You  should  know  wherein 
you  are  weak  and  in  what  you  are  strong.  Then 
consider  well  the  requirements  of  the  various 
professions,  and  you  will  not  likely  make  a mis- 
take. I do  not  regard  one  work  more  honorable 
than  another.  The  honor  is  not  in  the  profes- 
sion, but  in  the  man.  There  is  something  en- 
nobling in  doing  any  work  well.  It  is  far  better 
for  you  to  succeed  in  the  most  humble  vocation 
than  to  fail  in  an  honorable  profession. 

There  are  no  soft  places  in  life.  There  is  no 
royal  road  to  success  in  any  profession.  Those 
who  have  good  positions  and  large  salaries  are 
the  men  who  work.  To-day  every  profession  is 
crowded.  There  are  teachers  who  have  no  posi- 
tions, ministers  who'  receive  no  call,  lawyers  who 
have  no  clients,  and  physicians  who  have  no 
patients.  Don’t  make  a mistake.  You  can  rise 
only  by  hard  work.  Unless  you  can  stand  among 


28 


X-TALKS  AND  OTHER  ADDRESSES. 


the  first,  it  would  not  be  wise  for  you  to  enter  a 
profession.  You  know  your  strength  and  the 
difficulties  in  the  way.  Determine  to  rise  or 
enter  not  at  all.  You  will  find  room  only  at  the 
top.  If  you  make  no  mistake  you  will  succeed. 
Look  not  back,  but  go  forward. 

There  is  a demand  for  men  in  all  the  various 
professions  of  life— strong  men — men  who  can 
take  the  lead  and  mark  out  the  course  of  the 
world’s  progress.  There  is  a demand  for  good 
ministers,  wise  lawyer^,  and  successful  physi- 
cians. There  is  a wide  field  of  usefulness  to  the 
young  man  who  has  the  strength  to  go  forward 
and  overcome  the  obstacles  in  the  way.  The 
world  is  ready  to  receive  its  master.  Within  the 
past  few  years  wonderful  discoveries  have  been 
made  in  the  science  of  medicine,  and  yet  greater 
developments  and  improvements  in  the  treatment 
of  disease  will  yet  be  made.  In  all  professions 
there  is  room  for  improvement.  To  him  who 
takes  the  lead  will  be  granted  the  honor  of  a 
successful  career. 

Not  every  one  can  succeed  in  a profession. 
Many  a good  farmer  is  spoiled  to  make  a poor 
preacher.  There  is  no  honor  in  being  a second- 
class  anything.  If  you  have  not  the  require- 
ments to  succeed  in  a profession,  engage  in  some 
vocation.  Do  your  work  well;  fill  your  place  in 
the  world  full.  Honest  effort  on  your  part  will 
make  any  work  ennobling.  In  whatever  work 
you  engage  do  your  best. 


SELF-CONFIDENCE. 


29 


In  many  vocations  there  is  a demand  for  lead- 
ers. This  is  especially  true  in  mechanical  occu- 
pations. The  young  man  who  is  familiar  with 
electrical  science  is  sure  of  a position  at  good 
wages.  There  is  an  opportunity,  also,  for  the 
young  man  who  desires  to  enter  upon  a business 
career.  A vocation  is  no  more  exacting  than  a 
profession,  while  in  many  cases  the  pay  is  much 
greater.  Work  well  done  will  always  bring  its 
reward. 

While  I would  advise  you  to  select  early  your 
work  in  life,  don’t  be  in  a hurry  to  engage  in  a 
profession.  It  pays  to  prepare  well  for  any  work. 
If  yoif  are  ready  to  begin  well  between  twenty- 
five  and  thirty  years  of  age,  the  time  devoted  to 
preparation  has  been  well  spent.  The  competi- 
tion is  great,  and  you  will  have  need  of  all  your 
energy.  Many  persons  fail  because  they  lack 
preparation.  In  their  haste  they  lose  all.  They 
are  weak  when  they  might  be  strong.  Choose 
your  profession  wisely,  secure  thorough  prepara- 
tion, strive  earnestly  to  lead  and  you  need  give 
yourself  no  concern  as  to  the  result. 

IV. 

SELF-CONFIDENCE. 

Confidence  in  one’s  ability  to  do  is  half  the 
battle.  The  world  usually  takes  a man  at  the 
value  he  sets  upon  himself.  A faint-hearted  per- 
son seldom  wins  the  prize.  Confidence  gives 


30  X-TALKS  AND  OTHER  ADDRESSES. 

strength.  He  who  believes  he  will  succeed  will 
strive  with  energy,  while  he  who  has  no  hope 
of  winning  will  not  put  forth  his  best  efforts. 

Knowledge  gives  confidence,  and  confidence 
gives  power.  In  school  work  we  have  endeav- 
ored to  impress  upon  your  minds  the  importance 
of  not  only  knowing  a lesson,  but  knowing  that 
you  know.  Nothing  will  give  you  more  con- 
fidence in  yourself  than  to  master  a subject  thor- 
oughly. Egoism  is  not  confidence.  A boastful 
spirit  does  not  impart  courage  nor  strength. 
Some  persons  undertake  great  things,  but  they 
fail.  Their  knowledge  is  imperfect,  and  what 
confidence  they  have  is  a source  of  weakness, 
because  it  leads  them  to  undertake  the  impossi- 
ble. In  these  years  of  preparation  build  sure 
and  strong.  Let  your  confidence  be  founded 
upon  knowledge.  Knowledge  leads  to  truth,  and 
truth  is  light  and  power.  Not  to  be  certain  that 
you  know  a thing  will  destroy  your  confidence 
and  weaken  your  ability.  You  can  have  confi- 
dence only  in  what  you  know  to  be  true. 

It  is  well  for  a young  person  to  have  a good 
opinion  of  himself,  and  great  confidence  in  his 
ability  to  do.  The  only  time  that  some  of  us 
have  no  rivals  is  when  we  fall  in  love  with  our- 
selves. If  your  confidence  is  well  founded  it 
can  do  you  no  harm.  It  is  not  hard  to  distin- 
guish it  from  egoism.  Egoism  is  noisy,  confi- 
dence is  quiet.  Egoism  is  boastful,  confidence 
is  modest.  A young  person  starting  out  in  life 


SELF-CONFIDENCE. 


31 


ought  to  have  a fair  knowledge  of  what  he  can 
do.  The  object  of  an  education  is  to  g'ive  a man 
control  of  the  powers,  and  abilities  which  he 
possesses.  Consider  well,  then,  your  own  knowl- 
edge and  strength — determine  in  what  you  are 
weak  and  in  what  strong.  Then  look  carefully 
at  the  work  before  you.  Consider  the  difficul- 
ties in  the  way,  and  if  you  feel  that  you  can 
master  the  situation,  take  hold  of  it  with  un- 
bounded confidence  in  your  ability,  and  in  the 
assurance  of  final  triumph.  When  you  take  hold 
of  work  in  that  manner  you  cannot  fail.  See 
what  is  before  you  and  do  not  waste  your  time 
and  energy  in  striving  to  accomplish  the  im- 
possible. 

If  you  have  done  faithful  work  in  school  you 
can  teach  some  subjects  that  you  have  not 
studied.  Have  confidence  in  your  ability,  and 
back  up  your  confidence  by  earnest  work.  Con- 
fidence without  work  is  only  bombast  and  will 
cause  trouble.  Many  persons  fail  because  they 
do  not  consider  the  difficulties  in  the  way.  No 
one  can  do  all  things.  Men  of  great  ability  fail 
at  some  things.  He  who  has  no  ear  for  music 
should  not  attempt  to  become  a leader  of  an 
orchestra.  Failure  is  more  often  an  indication  of 
a mistake  than  of  weakness.  There  can  be  no 
real  confidence  unless  you  know  something  of 
the  work  to  be  done.  When  you  know  this,  then 
go  forward,  and  think  only  of  success.  Failure 
is  impossible  to  heroic  souls.  Poverty  has  no 


32  X-TALKS  AND  OTHER  ADDRESSES. 

chains  to  bind  to  earth,  and  fate  no  power  to 
daunt  the  courageous  spirit  of  him  who  has  con- 
fidence in  himself,  and  is  willing  to  work.  He 
holds  the  key  that  unlocks  the  gateway  of  knowl- 
edge, and  opens  up  avenues  to  success.  Many 
persons  place  much  virtue  in  trying.  They  put 
forth  a faint-hearted  effort,  fail  and  sit  down  with 
a satisfied  air,  saying,  “I  tried,  angels  can  do  no 
more.”  That  is  a mistake.  Only  those  who  do 
their  very  best  can  claim  the  reward  of  the 
angels.  There  is  no  virtue  in  simply  trying. 

A man  might  devote  all  his  energies  to  an 
attempt  to  reach  the  moon,  but  what  good  would 
come  of  it?  The  destinies  of  nations  is  shaped, 
and  the  course  of  the  world’s  progress  marked 
out  by  men  who  succeed,  not  by  those  who  sim- 
ply try.  You  are  expected  to  undertake  what 
you  can  do,  and  then  succeed.  Trying  will  not 
satisfy  the  demands  of  the  present.  The  record 
of  the  world’s  history  is  made  up  of  the  achieve- 
ments of  those  who  do.  Engage  in  no  work  in 
which  you  do  not  believe  you  can  succeed. 
When  you  once  begin,  falter  not,  fail  not.  Let 
your  confidence  be  based  upon  knowledge,  and 
it  will  give  you  courage  and  strength  that  will 
make  failure  impossible.  Simply  to  try  is  to  fail. 

However  fortunate  you  have  been  in  the  past, 
do  not  depend  upon  luck.  No  confidence,  no 
ability,  no  knowledge,  can  take  the  place  of 
genuine,  earnest  work.  What  you  would  do  you 
can  do.  “Our  lives  are  in  our  hands  to  shape 


LACK  OF  AMBITION. 


33 


them  as  we  will.”  By  our  own  exertions  we  carve 
out  our  destinies,  and  by  untiring  energy  pluck 
bright  success  from  the  hands  of  fate. 

V. 

LACK  OF  AMBITION. 

Many  persons  object  to  popular  education  be- 
cause an  education  makes  a person  dissatisfied 
with  his  condition  in  life.  It  was  never  intended 
that  man  should  be  satisfied  with  present  attain- 
ments. It  is  this  striving  after  greater  things  that 
distinguishes  man  from  the  lower  animals.  Too 
many  young  persons  are  satisfied  with  their  pres- 
ent condition  in  life.  They  do  not  realize  the 
possibilities  that  lie  before  them,  how  much 
brighter  the  sun  shines  just  across  the  mountain. 
They  lack  ambition  and  inspiration,  and  as  a re- 
sult they  accomplish  but  little  in  the  world. 

Not  all  can  be  great,  and  I would  not  have  any 
one  strive  after  the  impossible,  but  all  can  im- 
prove, and  every  one  should  have  at  least  a 
spark  of  that  celestial  fire — ambition — in  his 
breast.  No  man  dare  place  a limit  to  human  at- 
tainments. No  one  dare  say  that  the  most  ex- 
alted ambition  of  a young  man  is  an  illusion. 
Let  the  young  man  who  feels  within  himself  the 
possibility  of-  accomplishing  greater  things  go 
forward  with  his  eyes  fixed  on  the  stars.  He  may 
fail,  but  his  life  will  be  better  because  he  dreamed 


34  X-TALKS  AND  OTHER  ADDRESSES. 

dreams,  and  his  youth  saw  visions  of  brighter 
things. 

All  persons  are  not  ambitious.  Some  are  of 
the  earth  earthy.  They  are  content  to  live  and 
die  where  they  are  without  any  concern  of  what 
they  might  be.  You  have  doubtless  heard  the 
story  of  the  cat  that,  having  lost  one  of  her  kit- 
tens, went  to  the  woods  and  brought  back  a 
young  hare  and  adopted  it  as  a member  of  her 
own  family.  It  grew  and  was  contented,  but  the 
cat  could  not  teach  it  to  catch  mice.  In  spite 
of  being  boxed  on  the  ears  many  times,  the 
young  hare  was  no  mouser,  and  regardless  of 
the  disgust  and  punishment  of  the  foster-mother, 
it  would  eat  grass.  So  it  is  with  people.  There 
is  no  power  to  create  talent  or  ability,  and  some 
persons  will  eat  grass.  They  will  never  become 
mousers  under  any  system  of  training.  Do  not 
try  to  change  your  nature  nor  try  to  excel  in 
a work  for  which  you  have  no  talent. 

Ambition  is  an  evil  only  when  the  accomplish- 
ment of  some  special  purpose  becomes  a con- 
trolling influence  of  life,  and  no  regard  is  paid 
to  the  means  used.  It  is  the  inordinate  ambition 
that  pays  no  attention  to  right  or  wrong  that  has 
filled  the  world  with  suffering  and  the  pages  of 
the  world’s  history  with  the  record  of  rapine  and 
war,  with  all  their  attendant  evils.  No  ambition, 
however  worthy,  can  justify  crime.  When  a man 
gives  himself  up  to  the  accomplishment  of  a 
single  purpose  and  makes  that  the  one  end  of 


LACK  OF  AMBITION. 


35 


his  life,  he  fails  to  live  as  he  should  live,  and 
nothing  can  atone  for  the  mistake  he  makes. 
Forget  not  that  your  first  duty  is  to  be  a man  in 
the  truest  sense  of  the  word.  Do  nothing  not  in 
accordance  with  the  principles  of  right;  and  then 
no  worthy  ambition  can  injure  you.  Care  not 
if  others  laugh  at  your  ambition.  Strive  to  ac- 
complish something  worthy  of  your  ability,  and 
your  life  will  be  made  the  fuller,  grander  and 
nobler  thereby;  however  far  you  may  fall  short 
of  the  dreams  of  your  youth.  Make  not  the  fatal 
mistake  that  worthy  ambition  will  bring  you  suc- 
cess. However  exalted  may  be  your  aim,  noth- 
ing can  do  away  with  daily  drudgery  and  constant 
work.  To-day  and  every  day  you  must  put  forth 
your  best  efforts  to  realize  what  you  desire  to 
accomplish.  The  time  for  dreaming  has  past. 
Begin  now  and  make  every  day  count.  Nothing 
worth  having  will  come  to  you  by  chance. 

“The  heights  by  great  men  reached  and  kept 
Were  not  attained  by  sudden  flight; 

But  they,  while  their  companions  slept, 

Were  toiling  upward  in  the  night.” 

Whatever,  then,  may  be  your  lot  in  life,  be 
ambitious.  Live  not  for  self  alone,  but  for  the 
good  you  may  do.  Strive  not  for  that  which  is 
low,  but  for  that  which  will  exalt  and  ennoble 
humanity.  Let  the  means  used  be  honest,  and 
you  need  not  think  of  the  end.  Be  not  content 


36  X-TALKS  AND  OTHER  ADDRESSES. 

with  any  achievement  until  life  and  its  cares  are 
ended,  and  you  hear  the  summons,  “Come  up 
higher.” 

VI. 

THE  USE  OF  LANGUAGE. 

Correct  speech  is  more  a matter  of  habit  than 
of  knowledge.  Many  persons  who  are  familiar 
with  the  principles  of  language  violate  the  laws 
of  established  usage  every  day.  The  language 
a man  uses  tells  how  he  thinks,  and  the  manner 
in  which  he  thinks  determines  what  he  is.  Speech 
is  a better  indication  of  culture  and  refinement 
than  dress.  It  is  much  easier  to  dress  well  than 
to  talk  well.  Imperfection  in  speech  will  betray 
a person  in  unguarded  moments.  It  is  only  by 
constant  practice  that  correct  speech  can  become 
a habit. 

It  is  no  easy  matter  to  talk  well  and  to  correct 
imperfections  in  speech.  Read  only  the  best  of 
books,  and  observe  carefully  the  language. 
Compare  your  speech  with  that  of  educated  per- 
sons whom  you  meet.  Be  on  your  guard  not 
to  use  expressions  which  you  know  to  be  incor- 
rect or  inelegant.  Many  expressions  that  are 
grammatical  should  never  be  used  in  good  so- 
ciety. Whatever  is  coarse  or  low  should  be 
avoided.  Let  your  language  be  pure  and  clean. 
Forms  of  expression  used  in  childhood  will  cling 
to  you  for  years.  If  you  have  had  low  associates 
your  language  will  betray  you. 


THE  USE  OF  LANGUAGE.  2)7 

The  use  of  slang  has  become  quite  common. 
Many  of  the  expressions  are  of  low  and  vulgar 
origin,  while  other  words  usually  classed  as  slang 
are  in  good  usage.  Be  careful  of  its  use.  It  is 
unnecessary  and  indicates  carelessness  in 
thought  and  speech.  Many  of  the  words  are 
used  only  by  the  low  and  vulgar.  They  originate 
in  the  slums  of  the  city.  There  are  enough  words 
in  the  English  language  to  express  all  ordinary 
thoughts  without  using  expressions  of  doubtful 
propriety.  As  your  character  is  determined  by 
your  speech,  you  should  avoid  all  expressions 
that  indicate  low  associates. 

It  ought  not  to  be  necessary  to  speak  in  re- 
gard to  profane  language,  but  its  use  is  quite 
common  among  the  young  people  in  some  sec- 
tions of  the  country.  Even  students  have  been 
occasionally  heard  to  swear.  No  one  has  ever 
yet  been  able  to  give  a good  excuse  for  swearing. 
It  means  nothing;  it  is  unnecessary.  If  any  of 
you  are  in  the  habit  of  using  profane  language, 
stop  it.  It  is  an  evil,  a sinful  habit.  Let  every 
word  you  use  mean  something,  and  be  an  orna- 
ment to  your  speech. 

He  who  offends  not  in  speech  is  a perfect  man. 
When  young  people  get  together  there  is  great 
danger  of  their  using  objectionable  language. 
The  vulgar  story  is  told  and  laughed  over,  and 
the  obscene  joke  is  unrebuked.  Those  who  do 
not  tell  the  jokes  encourage  their  rehearsal  by 
their  presence.  Have  nothing  to  do  with  such 


38  X-TALKS  AND  OTHER  ADDRESSES. 

proceedings.  As  a rule  what  cannot  be  repeated 
in  the  parlor  in  the  presence  of  ladies  should  not 
be  told  in  the  privacy  of  your  own  rooms.  Evil 
thoughts  lead  to  evil  deeds.  Let  not  your  minds 
be  contaminated  with  that  which  leads  to  vul- 
garity. Let  no  words  fall  from  your  lips  that 
would  bring  a blush  of  shame  to  the  cheeks  of 
modesty  and  purity.  Evil  thoughts  will  drive  out 
good  thoughts,  and  if  you  will  use  good  language 
always,  you  must  think  only  the  best  of  thoughts. 
“Out  of  the  abundance  of  the  heart  the  mouth 
speaketh.” 

Inspect  every  word  that  you  use.  See  that 
it  is  pure,  and  use  it  correctly.  Aim  not  to  talk 
much,  but  to  talk  well.  Let  everything  you  say 
be  worth  hearing.  Think  much  and  talk  little. 
Seek  the  society  of  the  refined  and  cultivated. 
Let  not  your  speech  betray  anything  that  is  low 
and  mean  in  your  character.  Strive  each  day  to 
improve.  When  your  language  is  pure  and  ele- 
gant you  are  prepared  to  enter  any  society. 
Read  much,  think  much,  so  that  your  mind  may 
be  filled  with  worthy  thoughts,  that  you  may  be 
able  to  talk  intelligently  upon  many  subjects, 
and  your  society  will  be  sought  by  the  refined 
and  cultivated.  “Finally,  keep  your  heart  with 
all  diligence,  for  out  of  it  are  the  issues  of  life.” 
Keep  your  heart  pure,  and  then  your  thought 
will  be  pure,  your  language  will  be  pure,  your 
deeds  will  be  noble,  and  your  life  a blessing  to 
yourself  and  others. 


SOWING  WILD  OATS. 


39 


VII. 

SOWING  WILD  OATS. 

There  is  a widespread  opinion  among  well- 
meaning  people  that  a young  person  should 
spend  several  years  of  his  life  in  having  a good 
time,  in  seeing  the  world — or  in  other  words, 
‘‘sowing  wild  oats.”  And  strange  as  it  may  seem, 
it  is  believed  that  after  these  years  of  dissipation 
the  young  person  will  settle  down  and  be  the 
better  man  or  woman  for  the  evil  in  which  he  has 
indulged.  It  is  a universal  law  of  nature  that  as 
a man  sows  so  shall  he  reap.  No  man  can  sow 
vice  and  expect  to  reap  the  fruits  of  virtue.  He 
who  sows  wild  oats  will  find  nowhere  but  only 
tares.  No  one  can  indulge  in  evil  without  paying 
both  the  physical  and  moral  penalty,  while  a life 
of  virtue  always  brings  its  own  reward. 

I would  not  deprive  you  of  a single  legitimate 
pleasure.  Take  the  world  as  you  will,  and  you 
will  find  enough  of  care  and  pain  and  suffering 
and  heart-ache.  Look  on  the  bright  side  and 
make  the  most  of  all  the  enjoyments  and  pleas- 
ures of  life,  “but  know  this,  that  for  all  these 
things  God  will  bring  thee  into  judgment.”  I 
can  find  nowhere  a moral  code  for  young  men 
and  another  for  elder  persons.  All  must  shape 
their  characters  by  the  same  principles  of  right 
and  wrong.  Youth  can  never  be  an  excuse  for 


40 


X-TALKS  AND  OTHER  ADDRESSES. 


vice.  Right  is  eternal,  and  he  who  sins  must 
suffer. 

If  there  was  no  time  for  reaping  there  might 
be  some  pleasure  in  sowing  wild  oats.  What 
we  do  to-day  has  some  influence  upon  our  con- 
duct to-morrow.  No  man  can  escape  from  him- 
self. He  reaps  the  rewards  of  either  virtue  or 
vice.  It  is  said  that  one  of  the  greatest  pleasures 
of  old  age  is  reviewing  the  memory  of  a well- 
spent  youth.  How  important,  then,  that  each 
day  should  carry  with  it  the  memory  of  some 
work  well  done.  An  evil  deed  may  be  pardoned, 
but  it  cannot  be  forgotten.  It  still  leaves  its  im- 
pression upon  the  memory,  and  often  upon  the 
character.  Sin  is  weakness.  Do  not  for  a mo- 
ment think  that  you  can,  even  for  a day,  indulge 
in  vice  without  paying  the  penalty.  No  one  has 
ever  found  it  easier  to  do  right  because  he  has 
done  wrong.  To  know  of  the  allurements  and 
illusive  pleasures  of  sin  never  leads  to  a life  of 
virtue. 

It  is  sometimes  argued  by  young  men,  that  as 
sin  is  in  the  world  they  ought  to  know  something 
about  it.  They  regard  it  as  a part  of  their  educa- 
tion to  know  the  world.  There  are  many  things 
that  we  can  learn  only  by  experience.  No  one 
can  know  of  the  alluring  pleasures  of  sin  without 
indulgence,  nor  can  they  know  of  the  pain  and 
remorse  and  misery  that  follow.  But  some  ex- 
perience costs  more  than  it  is  worth.  By  walking 
over  molten  metal  a man  can  learn  something, 


SOWING  WILD  OATS. 


41 


but  no  one  would  advise  him  to  do  so.  There 
are  a great  many  things  in  the  world  we  do  not 
need  to  know.  The  world  winks  at  many  social 
evils.  It  is  even  argued  that  the  public  should 
have  no  concern  in  regard  to  the  private  life  of 
any  one.  Be  not  deceived  by  such  arguments. 
Even  if  it  were  possible  to  deceive  the  people,  no 
man  can  deceive  himself.  Some  time  ago  a man 
in  public  life  in  one  of  the  Eastern  States  was 
approached  by  one  who  attempted  to  influence 
his  conduct  with  a bribe.  It  was  argued  that  the 
matter  would  be  kept  secret,  and  no  one  would 
ever  be  the  wiser.  The  reply  was,  “I  would  know 
it,  and,  unfortunately,  I shave  myself,  and  I could 
not  endure  to  look  a rogue  in  the  face  every  day 
of  my  life.”  Should  the  world  be  willing  to  con- 
done a few  years  of  dissipation,  you  cannot  forget 
it,  nor  can  you  forgive  it,  nor  can  you  undo  it. 
A wound  may  heal,  but  it  leaves  a scar.  You 
who  are  familiar  with  the  private  life  of  the  men 
who  have  made  the  history  of  America  illus- 
trious, know  how  some  have  died  in  the  very 
vigor  of  manhood  as  a result  of  sowing  wild  oats. 
Evil  habits  formed  in  youth  have  grown  stronger 
with  age,  until  they  cannot  be  broken;  and  suf- 
fering untold  agonies,  these  men  reap  as  they 
have  sown.  No  position  in  life  is  an  excuse  for 
sin,  nor  can  honor  save  a man  from  paying  the 
penalty  of  his  own  conduct. 

A man  cannot  be  too  careful  how  he  sows.  I 
have  been  much  impressed  by  a story.  A man 


42 


X-TALKS  AND  OTHER  ADDRESSES. 


in  Germany  had  a valuable  piece  of  land  that  a 
neighbor  wished  to  buy;  but  he  refused  to  sell. 
As  he  would  not  sell,  the  neighbor  finally  in- 
duced him  to  rent  him  a field  for  one  crop.  The 
contract  was  duly  drawn  up  and  signed.  The 
sowing  took  place,  and  the  man  watched  with 
anxiety  the  young  crop.  But  it  seemed  that  his 
neighbor  had  sown  poor  seed,  and  would  have 
no  harvest.  At  the  end  of  the  year  he  demanded 
the  return  of  his  field.  But  the  neighbor  replied, 
“Not  so,  I have  not  yet  reaped  my  crop,  I have 
planted  acorns,  and  they  will  not  be  ready  for 
harvest  for  three  hundred  years.”  So  it  is  with 
a young  man  when  he  starts  out  to  sow  his  wild 
oats,  only  for  a few  years,  and  then  reform. 
While  he  is  indulging  in  the  pleasures  of  sin  the 
evil  one  is  binding  him  hand  and  foot  by  the 
chains  of  evil  habit.  And  when  he  realizes  his 
danger  and  would  reform,  finds  himself  power- 
less. Take  the  devil  at  his  own  game  and  he  will 
beat  you  every  time.  There  is  no  safety  only  in 
virtue.  Not  to  know  sin  is  wisdom.  To  be 
ignorant  of  vice  is  knowledge.  To  be  pure  is 
strength. 

Evil  thoughts  always  precede  evil  deeds.  The 
mind  is  corrupted  before  the  body  yields.  Be 
careful  of  your  thoughts  and  of  your  words,  and 
your  conduct  will  not  be  evil.  In  the  words  of 
the  wise  man,  “Keep  thy  heart  with  all  diligence, 
for  out  of  it  are  the  issues  of  life.”  Let  your 
conduct  be  always  open  and  manly.  Never  do  in 


JUST  FOR  FUN. 


43 


secret  what  you  would  be  ashamed  to  have 
known  in  public.  When  a young  man  is  seen 
secretly  entering  a questionable  place  of  amuse- 
ment, he  is  not  far  from  ruin.  Let  me  urge  you 
to  keep  your  record  clean.  Stain  not  a single  leaf 
in  the  record  of  your  life  by  the  story  of  evil  in- 
dulgence. 

Every  day  is  a fatal  day.  No  hour  is  unim- 
portant. Every  moment  carries  with  it  the  seeds 
of  destiny.  Your  life  here  as  a student  will  de- 
termine to  a great  extent,  both  your  character 
and  your  destiny.  I would  impress  upon  you 
the  importance  of  sowing  only  truth  and  virtue. 
How  you  study,  how  you  deal  with  your  fellow- 
students,  determines  how  you  will  act  in  after 
life.  Do  not  worry  about  the  reaping.  Fill  each 
day  full  of  good  deeds,  keep  your  heart  pure 
and  your  hands  clean,  and  when  the  harvest  time 
comes  you  will  find  no  tares,  but  only  sheaves 
of  golden  grain. 

VIII. 

JUST  FOR  FUN. 

Man  was  made  to  laugh.  He  is  the  only  animal 
capable  of  enjoying  wit  and  humor.  He  is  so 
constituted  that  he  may  enjoy  to  the  fullest  ex- 
tent all  the  pleasures  of  his  three-fold  nature.  It 
is  a beauty  to  look  on  the  bright  side  of  life,  and 
to  laugh  rather  than  to  cry.  He  who  is  first  to 


44 


X-TALKS  AND  OTHER  ADDRESSES. 


laugh  at  the  follies  of  humanity  will  always  be 
first  to  come  in  time  of  sorrow. 

It  is  not  wrong  to  have  a good  time  if  we 
violate  no  natural  law,  nor  interfere  with  the 
rights  of  others.  And  yet  one  of  the  greatest 
dangers  of  a student’s  life  comes  from  what  is 
said  and  done  “just  for  fun.”  It  is  true  that  when 
alone  we  are  subject  to  temptations  that  a friend 
would  enable  us  to  resist.  But  it  is  also  true  that 
several  young  persons,  when  together,  will  say 
and  do  things  that  none  of  them  would  be  guilty 
of  when  alone.  Every  young  person  has  realized 
this,  and  has  time  and  again  been  surprised  at 
his  own  conduct.  Evil  is  contagious.  One 
wrong  thought,  one  unkind  word,  one  thought- 
less deed  leads  to  another  until  the  end  may  be 
the  loss  of  all  that  life  holds  dear.  It  is  against 
this  danger  that  I wish  to  warn  you.  When  at 
your  studies  you  are  safe.  It  is  only  when  seek- 
ing pleasure  and  recreation  that  temptations 
appear  in  so  many  attractive  forms.  It  is  then 
that  you  should  be  guided  by  reason,  and  not 
by  impulse.  “Just  for  fun”  is  never  an  excuse 
for  any  conduct.  Young  people  are  expected 
to  have  a good  time.  No  one  cares  to  see  an 
old  head  on  young  shoulders.  But  the  old  say- 
ing that  “boys  will  be  boys”  is  no  more  an 
excuse  for  evil  conduct  than  it  is  a reason  for 
virtuous  action.  It  is  just  as  natural  for  boys 
to  take  pity  on  a wounded  bird  as  it  is  for  them 
to  tie  a tin  can  to  the  tail  of  some  harmless  dog. 


JUST  FOR  FUN. 


45 


“Boys  will  be  boys”  does  not  account  for  either 
act,  nor  is  there  more  fun  in  the  one  than  in  the 
other,  only  as  the  actors  delight  in  virtue  or  vice. 

Why  should  students  find  more  fun  in  annoy- 
ing a new  student  than  in  treating  him  kindly? 
“Just  for  fun”  is  no  excuse  for  the  many  cases  of 
cruelty  occurring  in  our  colleges  every  year. 
Legitimate  fun  does  not  unjustly  offend,  or  un- 
duly humiliate  anyone.  Fun  based  upon  cruelty 
is  not  fun,  but  vice.  There  is  something  wrong 
with  the  moral  nature  of  young  men  who  find 
pleasure  in  playing  tricks  upon  those  whom  they 
regard  either  intellectually  or  physically  inferior 
to  themselves.  It  is  the  duty  of  the  strong  to 
protect  the  weak,  not  to  offend  them.  I would 
have  you,  while  here  in  school,  don  the  armor  of 
the  true  knight  and  make  it  a part  of  your  life’s 
work  to  care  for  the  oppressed,  and  right  wrong 
wherever  found. 

Think  twice  before  doing  anything  “just  for 
fun.”  What  is  meant  only  for  a moment’s 
pastime  may  leave  a lasting  influence  upon  your 
character  and  your  destiny.  Let  kindness  rule 
your  conduct,  and  you  will  not  likely  be  led 
astray  in  the  hours  of  recreation.  “He  who 
offends  not  in  word  is  a perfect  man.”  Be  care- 
ful therefore  of  what  you  say.  It  is  well  when 
together  to  always  imagine  your  mother  or  sister 
as  present  to  hear  all  that  is  said.  That  will  keep 
you  out  of  undesirable  society.  Evil  communi- 
cations not  only  corrupt  good  manners,  but  they 


46  X-TALKS  AND  OTHER  ADDRESSES. 

destroy  character  as  well.  Put  a key  upon  your 
lips  and  guard  well  what  you  say.  Let  every 
word  you  say  be  as  a perfect  coin  from  the  mint. 

No  one  should  ever  become  too  old  to  enjoy 
fun.  The  body  may  become  old,  but  the  heart 
should  ever  remain  young.  Laugh  when  you 
can,  cry  when  you  must.  Work  earnestly  when 
you  work,  and  in  the  hours  of  recreation  give 
yourself  fully  to  the  pleasures  of  the  moment; 
being  guided  by  reason  and  not  by  impulse.  A 
good  hearty  laugh  is  better  for  a man  than  medi- 
cine. I almost  envy  the  man  who  can  laugh 
heartily.  Shakespeare  warns  us  against  the  man 
who  never  laughs,  and  not  without  reason. 

How  a man  seeks  pleasure  determines  his 
character  more  than  the  manner  in  which  he 
works.  Let  me  know  how  you  enjoy  yourself 
and  I can  tell  what  you  are.  Water  and  young 
people  seek  their  level.  By  the  company  you 
keep  you  are  judged.  Those  who  associate  to- 
gether may  be  engaged  in  different  vocations,  but 
they  enjoy  the  same  sports  and  do  the  same 
things  “just  for  fun.”  The  little  things  make  up 
life.  When  you  go  into  a strange  community 
you  are  judged  not  so  much  by  your  work  as  by 
the  manner  in  which  you  spend  your  leisure  mo- 
ments. When  a business  man  makes  inquiries 
in  regard  to  a young  man  whom  he  wishes  to  em- 
ploy, the  leading  questions  are,  “Does  he  have 
expensive  habits?  What  is  the  character  of  his 


IMPORTANCE  OF  CHARACTER.  47 

associates?”  From  the  answer  to  these  ques- 
tions the  situation  is  secured  or  lost. 

It  does  not  pay  to  live  “just  for  fun.”  Be  on 
your  guard.  Find  enjoyment  in  all  things,  but 
the  sweetest  pleasures  of  life  come  from  duties 
well  done.  True  enjoyment  needs  no  conceal- 
ment. When  you  make  a mistake  do  not  plead 
the  excuse,  “I  was  just  in  fun,”  but  bravely  take 
the  responsibility  and  right  the  wrong  so  far  as 
you  may  be  able.  Be  brave,  be  honest,  be  just, 
and  then  you  will  always  have  a good  time. 

IX. 

IMPORTANCE  OF  CHARACTER. 

A man’s  worth  in  the  world  does  not  depend 
so  much  upon  his  ability  as  upon  his  character. 
The  great  demand  to-day  is  not  for  men  who  can 
do,  but  for  men  who  can  be  trusted;  men  who 
will  do  an  honest  day’s  work  without  being 
watched.  The  young  person  who  always  con- 
siders the  interest  of  his  employer  as  sacred  as 
his  own  will  seldom  have  any  difficulty  in  secur- 
ing a position.  Those  who  never  do  more  than 
they  are  compelled  to  do,  and  shirk  the  unpleas- 
ant work,  are  the  ones  who  are  always  complain- 
ing of  not  being  able  to  find  anything  to  do. 

A young  man  should  regard  his  character  as 
one  of  his  most  valuable  and  sacred  possessions. 
He  cannot  be  too  careful  of  what  he  says  and 
does.  The  least  violation  of  the  strict  principles 


48  X-TALKS  AND  OTHER  ADDRESSES. 

of  rectitude  is  dangerous.  He  must  be  known 
among  his  associates  as  a man  who  can  be 
trusted.  His  word  must  be  as  good  as  his  bond. 
Every  promise  made  must  be  sacredly  kept,  even 
to  his  own  hurt.  In  business,  in  society,  he  must 
be  a man  that  can  be  relied  upon.  Such  a char- 
acter is  worth  more  than  money  to  a young  man. 
It  gives  him  a commanding  influence,  and  opens 
up  to  him  many  opportunities  of  securing  em- 
ployment. It  is  often  regarded  as  smart  to  take 
the  advantage  of  another  in  a business  transac- 
tion. It  is  called  shrewdness,  and  not  dishonesty. 
Some  persons  regard  everything  as  fair  in  busi- 
ness, and  they  expect  every  man  to  look  out  for 
himself.  Their  theory  is  that  the  defect  in  an 
article  must  be  detected  by  the  man  who  buys, 
even  if  he  who  sells  does  guarantee  that  it  is 
perfect.  Business  conducted  upon  such  princi- 
ples must  in  the  end  fail.  The  great  commercial 
houses  in  our  country  were  founded  upon  hon- 
esty. What  they  said  could  be  relied  upon,  and 
people  were  not  afraid  to  trust  them.  Even  in 
business,  honesty  pays.  He  who  is  honest  sim- 
ply from  policy  is  dishonest  from  principle. 
Honesty  must  permeate  a man’s  character  and 
be  a part  of  his  business  code. 

I am  aware  that  with  many  persons  the  old 
fashioned  honesty  that  is  all  wool  and  a yard  wide 
is  not  popular.  They  do  not  regard  the  interests 
of  another  as  sacred  as  their  own.  They  do  not 
in  business  transactions  regard  every  man  as  a 


IMPORTANCE  OF  CHARACTER. 


49 


brother.  So  they  take  advantage  of  the  innocent 
and  oppress  the  weak  and  call  it  business. 
Young  men  cannot  be  too  careful  of  this  delusive 
reasoning.  There  is  but  one  moral  code  for 
business  and  society.  Nothing  can  make  wrong 
right.  Your  character  must  be  sacred,  and  you 
can  have  nothing  to  do  with  those  who  would 
prosper  by  dishonest  means.  Character  is  what 
you  are;  reputation  is  what  people  think  of  you. 
They  may  not  always  be  the  same.  Character  is  al- 
ways real,  reputation  may  be  misleading.  A per- 
son of  bad  character  may  for  a time  have  an 
excellent  reputation.  A man’s  reputation  may 
change  often,  but  character  seldom  changes.  A 
good  reputation  may  be  lost  and  won,  but  when 
character  is  lost  it  is  gone  forever.  Be  careful 
with  your  character,  and  your  reputation  will 
take  care  of  itself.  But,  however  good  your 
character,  you  may  have  a very  bad  reputation. 
You  cannot  always  determine  what  your  reputa- 
tion will  be.  Your  motives  may  be  misunder- 
stood, and  evil  disposed  persons  may  for  a time 
cause  you  trouble.  If  this  should  occur,  be  not 
dismayed.  Stand  firm  by  the  principles  of  right. 
God  and  truth  will  always  vindicate  the  man 
who  does  his  duty. 

Character  is  the  one  thing  important.  It  alone 
will  survive  amid  the  wreck  of  empires  and  the 
clash  of  worlds.  Whatever  misfortune  may 
overtake  you,  let  there  be  no  stain  upon  your 
character.  Like  gold  tried  in  the  fire  it  will 


50  X-TALKS  AND  OTHER  ADDRESSES. 

shine  resplendent  amid  every  disaster  and  calam- 
ity of  life.  Whatever  is  not  honest  is  dangerous, 
however  expedient  it  may  seem.  It  matters  not 
how  successful  you  may  be  in  life,  the  best  legacy 
you  can  leave  your  children  is  the  record  of  a 
noble  character.  It  will  be  to  them  an  inspira- 
tion and  a guide. 

Now  is  the  time  you  are  forming  your  char- 
acters. What  you  are  in  school  is  what  you  will 
be  in  life.  You  need  good  counsel.  Laugh  not 
at  things  sacred.  Take  the  Bible  as  your  guide. 
Let  the  great  aim  of  your  life  be  to  shape  your 
character  in  accordance  with  the  teachings  of 
Christ.  Whatever  you  may  think  of  religion  you 
will  find  the  above  a good  moral  code.  It  will 
give  you  a character  above  reproach.  Great  are 
the  responsibilities  of  life,  and  many  are  the 
temptations  you  will  encounter,  but  stand  firm 
by  the  old  Book.  It  will  be  a safe  guide.  Follow 
its  teachings.  And  when  life  and  its  cares  are 
over,  friends  and  neighbors  will  rise  up  and  call 
you  blessed. 

X. 

SCHOOL  FRIENDSHIPS. 

Among  the  most  sacred  memories  of  school 
life  are  the  friendships  formed  and  the  class  as- 
sociations. Friendship  is  a sacred  tie  that  binds 
kindred  souls  together.  It  divides  all  the  sor- 
rows of  life  and  more  than  doubles  the  pleasures. 
It  makes  the  weak  strong  and  the  brave  more 


SCHOOL  FRIENDSHIPS. 


51 


valiant.  It  adds  to  every  virtue  and  makes  vice 
repulsive.  Many  of  the  happiest  hours  of  school 
life  are  spent  in  communing  with  friends.  They 
help  each  other  over  the  difficult  places  in  life. 
They  counsel  each  other  when  in  doubt,  and 
cheer  and  strengthen  each  other  when  in  trouble. 

It  is  well  for  every  student  to  have  one  confi- 
dential friend — one  whom  he  can  trust,  and  in 
whose  judgment  he  has  confidence.  There  are 
times  when,  away  from  home,  every  young  per- 
son needs  the  counsel  and  advice  of  a friend. 
Friends  can  save  each  other  from  many  mistakes, 
even  in  school.  If  you  are  hasty  and  impulsive 
you  need  the  counsel  of  one  who  is  slow  and 
conservative.  In  your  societies  you  do  not  al- 
ways act  wisely.  A friend  can  point  out  your 
blunders,  and  help  you  to  avoid  them  in  the 
future.  You  may  be  hasty  in  speech.  Your  as- 
sociates may  not  understand  you.  How  impor- 
tant to  have  a friend  to  tell  you  of  these  things. 
You  can  give  each  other  suggestions  in  regard  to 
dress,  to  conversation,  and  a hundred  other 
things  that  other  persons  would  not  care  to 
speak  to  you  about.  We  are  often  rude  when 
we  do  not  realize  it,  and  unjust  when  we  mean 
to  be  kind.  A friend  can  help  us  to  remove  the 
rough  places  from  our  manners  and  make  us 
more  agreeable  to  all.  A friend,  however,  is  not 
necessary  to  help  you  with  your  studies,  for  you 
do  the  best  work  when  you  study  alone.  If  a 
friend  is  to  remove  the  difficulties  from  your  way, 


52  X-TALKS  AND  OTHER  ADDRESSES. 

he  will  weaken  you  rather  than  strengthen  you. 

How  pleasant  in  the  hours  of  recreation  to  talk 
of  the  future  with  a friend,  to  develop  plans  for 
the  grander  achievements  that  await  us.  How 
we  strengthen  each  other,  and  though  otfr  hopes 
may  not  be  fully  realized,  life  is  made  more  real 
by  these  school  day  plans  of  victories  to  be  won 
in  the  noble  future.  In  these  quiet  hours  you 
will  enjoy  talking  of  life,  its  duties  and  its  respon- 
sibilities. There  are  so  many  things  you  do  not 
care  to  talk  about  only  to  your  friends.  No  one 
cares  to  reveal  his  hopes  and  fears  to  the  public. 
Friendship  is  a source  of  strength  in  time  of 
duty,  and  one  of  the  greatest  pleasures  in  the 
hours  of  recreation. 

There  is  no  pledge  more  sacred  than  that  of 
friendship.  Friends  may  become  estranged,  but 
the  seal  of  what  has  been  told  in  the  bond  of 
friendship  will  never  be  broken.  Of  course  there 
are  false  friends,  those  who  would  betray  any 
trust.  Beware  of  these.  True  friendship  is  never 
formed  from  selfish  motives.  It  seeks  to  help 
rather  than  to  be  helped.  It  appeals  to  all  the 
noblest  emotions  of  the  human  soul.  The  man 
who  has  no  regard  for  the  obligations  of  friend- 
ship is  fit  for  any  crime.  Cherish  the  friendship 
now  formed.  Keep  up  the  correspondence  after 
you  leave  school.  A letter  from  a friend  is  al- 
ways a source  of  pleasure.  Misunderstandings 
may  arise,  and  then  be  careful  what  you  do. 
Never  write  any  unkind  words  in  a letter.  If 


SCHOOL  FRIENDSHIPS. 


S3 


you  must,  speak  the  bitter  word,  but  do  not 
write  it.  Long  after  the  offense  has  been  for- 
gotten, trembling  hands  may  unfold  that  letter, 
grown  yellow  with  age,  and  read  again  those 
bitter  words.  It  is  a good  rule  to  be  always  care- 
ful of  what  you  write.  Never  write  anything  you 
may  wish  to  recall. 

Have  but  few  confidential  friends,  but  aim  to 
have  many  social  friends.  Make  friends  of  all 
your  associates.  Beware  of  the  hasty  remark 
and  the  unkind  word.  Deal  justly  with  men,  so 
that  all  whom  you  meet  may  become  your  friends. 
The  secret  of  being  popular  in  school  is  simply 
being  just  and  considerate  of  the  feelings  of 
others.  Never  make  an  enemy  if  you  can  help  it. 
Get  out  of  your  way,  if  necessary,  to  keep  from 
wounding  a friend.  In  unexpected  moments 
friends  will  help  you.  Little  acts  of  kindness  are 
often  forgotten,  but  they  bear  fruit  in  due  time. 
It  does  not  pay  to  say  sharp  things.  Reprove 
kindly  if  you  must,  but  never  wound  the  feelings 
of  another  without  cause.  You  will  never  have 
too  many  friends. 

Study  to  be  a true  friend,  violate  no  pledge, 
aim  to  be  a wise  counselor  and  safe  guide.  So 
live  that  your  life  may  be  an  inspiration  and  a 
help  to  others.  Be  true  to  the  principles  of  right, 
and  in  the  language  of  Shakespeare,  “To  thine 
own  self  be  true,  and  it  must  follow  as  the  night 
the  day,  that  thou  canst  not  then  be  false  to  any 
man.” 


54  X-TALKS  AND  OTHER  ADDRESSES. 


XI. 

THE  USE  OF  BOOKS. 

Milton  says  that  a good  book  is  the  life  blood 
of  a master  spirit.  A book  lives  because  it  ob- 
tains life  from  the  author.  He  is  wise,  therefore, 
who  makes  friends  of  his  books.  They  can 
counsel  him  in  times  of  trouble,  cheer  him  in 
seasons  of  despondency,  and  lead  him  in  hours  of 
doubt.  They  are  always  ready  to  lead  and  in- 
struct, but  they  never  intrude  their  advice,  nor 
oppress  us  by  their  presence.  In  that  are  they 
model  friends. 

A taste  for  good  reading,  and  to  know  how  to 
use  good  books,  is  the  greater  part  of  an  educa- 
tion. Reading  is  the  queen  of  all  studies.  It  is 
the  key  that  unlocks  the  gates  of  knowledge.  It 
not  only  commands  the  present,  but  opens  up  all 
the  treasures  of  the  past.  He  who  knows  how  to 
read  wisely  has  all  things  at  his  command.  He 
calls,  and  the  ancient  philosophers  come  and  talk 
with  him;  he  asks  wisdom  and  the  wise  men  of 
earth  counsel  him;  he  seeks  knowledge  and  the 
acquirements  of  a thousand  years  lie  open  before 
him. 

When  going  into  a strange  community  I can 
give  you  no  better  counsel  than  to  take  with  you 
a few  good  books.  Make  them  your  companions 
until  you  have  an  opportunity  to  select  desirable 
associates.  It  will  shield  you  from  temptation, 


THE  USE  OF  BOOKS. 


55 


and  comfort  you  in  hours  of  loneliness.  Culti- 
vate, then,  the  reading  habit.  Improve  the  idle 
hours.  It  is  easy  to  waste  enough  of  time  in  a 
few  years  to  master  a language,  or  become 
familiar  with  some  of  the  sciences.  One  hour 
each  day  devoted  to  reading,  will  enable  you  to 
become  conversant  with  the  masterpieces  of 
English  literature. 

Read  only  the  best  of  books.  The  reading  of 
impure  hooks  and)  trashy  literature  ruins  the 
minds  and  morals  of  thousands  of  young  persons 
every  year.  You  are  influenced  by  what  you 
read,  and  you  should  be  as  careful  in  selecting 
the  books  you  read  as  in  selecting  your  asso- 
ciates. As  a rule  a book  that  is  worth  reading  at 
all  is  worth  reading  twice.  Master  what  you 
read.  One  book  well  read  and  made  your  own 
by  careful  thought  will  add  more  to  your  strength 
of  mind  and  character  than  a dozen  books  care- 
lessly read.  Do  not  take  for  granted  everything 
you  read.  Think  over  it.  Challenge  every 
doubtful  statement,  and  determine  how  wide  the 
application.  Notice  how  well  the  author  main- 
tains his  position.  Read  both  sides  of  a subject. 
Read  not  to  maintain  your  present  position,  but 
to  ascertain  the  truth.  Aim  not  to  be  consistent. 
If  to-day  you  learn  that  you  were  wrong  yester- 
day, get  on  the  right  side  of  the  question  at  once. 
There  is  no  consistency  but  truth.  The  well 
read  man  is  liberal  in  his  opinions.  He  realizes 
that  he  may  not  know  all  the  truth,  and  that  a 


56  X-TALKS  AND  OTHER  ADDRESSES. 

better  knowledge  of  the  subject  may  cause  him 
to  change  his  views.  Let  your  reading  be  varied. 
Do  not  confine  yourself  to  the  same  kind  of 
books.  Endeavor  to  be  well  informed  on  many 
subjects,  though  you  may  have  time  to  master 
but  few. 

The  field  of  literature  is  so  wide,  there  is  so 
much  that  might  be  read  with  profit,  that  it  is 
difficult  to  tell  just  what  we  should  read.  We 
are  more  interested  in  the  present  than  in  the 
past.  For  that  reason  it  is  well  to  read  a few 
newspapers  and  magazines,  that  we  may  know 
what  is  going  on  around  us.  Great  events  arc 
transpiring  to-day,  and  it  is  important  that  we 
know  how  men  think  and  what  they  are  doing. 
This  we  can  learn  from  the  daily  papers,  as  they 
contain  the  material  for  future  histories. 

Among  the  great  books  Shakespeare  stands 
first.  There  are  some  objectionable  features  in 
his  writings,  but  his  work  contains  so  many 
things  so  well  said  that  no  well  refined  person 
can  be  ignorant  of  his  writings.  Literature  is 
full  of  quotations  from  Shakespeare.  Read  him 
carefully,  and  separate  the  gold  from  the  dross. 
Read  some  from  Dickens,  especially  David 
Copperfield,  the  favored  child  of  his  genius. 
Read  some  of  Thackeray’s  works,  and  the  other 
English  novelists.  Do  not  aim  to  read  all  the 
works  of  any  author.  Just  read  the  best.  In 
poetry  read  Tennyson,  Longfellow  and  Lowell. 
There  are  selections  from  the  other  poets  that 


THE  USE  OF  MONEY. 


57 


you  will  read.  Snow  Bound,  by  Whittier,  is  well 
worth  your  attention.  Read  Ben  Hur,  by  Lew 
Wallace.  It  is  a book  that  was  written  for  a 
purpose.  Todd’s  Students’  Manual  will  be  worth 
many  times  the  price  to  any  of  you.  Read 
Irving’s  works.  Read  history,  and  the  biogra- 
phies of  the  men  who  make  history.  Cultivate 
the  taste  for  reading,  and  you  will  have  no  trou- 
ble in  selecting  good  books. 

Above  all,  read  the  Bible.  Make  it  your  daily 
counselor  and  guide.  Never  be  too  busy  to  read 
a short  selection  every  day.  It  is  a book  above 
all  other  books.  Read  it,  study  it,  follow  its 
teachings,  and  you  will  not  only  know  how  to 
live,  but  be  fitted  for  the  higher  and  better  life 
that  awaits  you  when  this  life  is  ended. 

XII. 

THE  USE  OF  MONEY. 

Carlyle  says,  Tell  him  a man’s  ideas  of  God  and 
he  will  tell  you  what  he  is.  So,  what  a man 
thinks  of  money,  and  the  manner  in  which  he 
uses  it,  is  a good  indication  of  his  character. 
Money  is  a means  of  power.  In  fact  it  seems  al- 
most all  powerful.  It  marshals  armies,  equips 
navies,  tunnels  mountains,  and  carries  on  the 
commerce  of  the  world  in  a thousand  various 
forms.  In  these  days  of  shady  transactions  it 
secures  honor,  fame,  social  position;  and  it  is 
reported  that  it  can  even  secure  a husband  or 


58  X-TALICS  AND  OTHER  ADDRESSES. 

wife  with  a title.  The  price,  however,  is  not 
quoted  as  the  market  fluctuates  according  to  sup- 
ply and  demand. 

In  the  hands  of  a just  man  money  is  the 
source  of  an  untold  blessing  to  humanity.  Nearly 
every  college,  university  and  charitable  institu- 
tion in  the  country  is  the  monument  to  the 
benevolence  of  some  man  of  wealth.  Money  is 
power.  It  increases  itself,  and  in  the  hands  of 
an  unjust  man  it  becomes  the  means  of  coining 
the  very  life  blood  of  even  widows  and  orphans 
into  money.  It  may  even  thwart  justice,  and 
often  makes  vice  seem  more  attractive  than 
virtue.  The  manner  in  which  it  is  used  deter- 
mines whether  it  shall  be  a blessing  or  a curse 
to  humanity. 

As  money  is  the  standard  of  value  in  com- 
mercial transactions,  it  becomes  an  easy  method 
of  determining  how  lightly  a man  prizes  hisj 
various  surroundings  and  possessions.  For  that 
reason  it  is  an  index  of  character.  How  a man 
uses  money  determines  what  he  thinks  of  the 
things  that  command  money. 

The  idea  of  the  importance  of  money,  formed 
in  youth,  seldom  changes.  Were  some  person  to 
give  each  of  you  a sum  of  money  to  be  used  as 
you  thought  best,  the  manner  in  which  you 
disposed  of  it  would  enable  him  to  tell  much  of 
your  future  life.  How  important,  then,  that  you 
early  place  a correct  estimate  upon  the  value  of 
money.  Young  people  are  sometimes  careless. 


THE  USE  OF  MONEY. 


59 


They  do  not  place  a just  estimate  upon  the  rela- 
tive value  of  things.  Moriey,  in  itself,  is  of  no 
use.  Each  one  is  supposed  to  spend  his  money 
so  as  to  secure  the  greatest  benefit  or  the  most 
pleasure.  Because  we  look  at  the  world  differ- 
ently we  do  not  spend  our  money  in  the  same 
way.  In  this  one  thing,  however,  we  agree,  that 
he  who  spends  his  money  to-day  cannot  expect 
to  enjoy  its  possession  to-morrow. 

It  is  a good  plan  for  you  to  keep  a record  of 
all  the  money  you  spend.  At  the  end  of  each 
month  or  two  you  can  review  your  accounts,  and 
see  in  what  you  might  have  spent  your  money 
more  wisely.  This  will  be  found  a good  means 
to  overcome  carelessness  in  the  use  of  money. 
A few  nickles  or  dimes  spent  each  day  for  what 
is  not  really  necessary  amounts  to  quite  a little 
sum  in  a short  time.  It  is  not  only  the  money 
that  might  be  saved,  but  an  evil  habit  could  be 
overcome.  It  is  a good  rule  to  think  before 
spending  even  a small  sum  of  money.  I believe 
it  is  a duty  to  make  the  best  use  of  your  money, 
not  to  hoard  it,  but  to  spend  it  at  the  proper 
time  and  in  the  proper  manner. 

It  is  not  always  economical  to  save  money. 
When  you  need  a thing  and  have  the  money  to 
pay  for  it,  as  a rule,  it  is  wise  to  buy  it.  “There 
is  a withholding  that  maketh  not  rich.”  Too 
many  persons  and  bodies  deprive  themselves  of 
many  of  the  pleasures  of  life  that  they  might 
enjoy.  If,  in  order  to  do  good  work  in  your 


60  X-TALKS  AND  OTHER  ADDRESSES. 

studies,  you  need  a book,  buy  it  and  save  in  some- 
thing else.  But  few  persons  can  buy  everything 
they  would  like  to  have.  In  making  a wise  selec- 
tion depends  much  of  the  success  and  enjoyment 
of  life.  Be  saving,  but  not  penurious.  Place  a 
high  estimate  upon  money,  but  value  it  only  as 
a means  of  doing  good,  and  do  not  fall  down  and 
worship  it.  Men  suffering  the  need  of  fuel,  cloth- 
ing and  food  have  died  clutching  gold  in  their 
fleshless  hands.  How  the  love  of  it  grows  until 
it  destroys  every  noble  sentiment  and  impulse  ot 
the  human  soul.  Earn  it,  use  it,  enjoy  it,  and 
make  the  world  better  for  having  it. 

Of  recent  years  it  has  become  common  for 
certain  classes  of  persons  to  condemn  all  men  of 
wealth,  simply  because  they  have  been  successful 
in  acquiring  money.  Wealth  is  no  indication  of 
vice,  as  poverty  is  no  test  of  virtue.  The  condi- 
tions of  society  are  such  that  rich  men  are  more 
common  to-day  thap  in  the  earlier  history  of  our 
country.  The  people  are  no  more  wicked,  how- 
ever. Our  men  of  wealth  have  been  a great 
blessing  to  our  country  in  many  ways.  It  re- 
quires vast  sums  of  money  to  carry  on  the  indus- 
trial enterprises  of  to-day.  Of  recent  years  the 
resources  of  the  country  have  been  developed 
and  wealth  has  increased  rapidly.  It  would  do 
me  no  wrong  were  some  man  with  capital  to 
come  here  and  develop  the  resources  of  this  sec- 
tion, however  great  a fortune  he  may  acquire. 
It  is  generally  supposed  that  a few  wealthy  men 


THE  USE  OF  MONEY. 


61 


are  desirable  residents  of  any  State.  Do  not 
think  that  I for  a moment  approve  of  any  of  the 
questionable  ways  of  acquiring  a fortune.  Sim- 
ply do  not  condemn  a man  because  he  has  money. 
Judge  him  by  the  same  law  that  you  do  your 
neighbor,  and  determine  the  virtue  of  his  for- 
tune by  the  manner  in  which  it  has  been  ac- 
quired. 

One  of  the  greatest  dangers  that  a young  man 
encounters  in  starting  out  in  life  is  the  need  of 
money.  Thousands  of  bright  hopes  and  cher- 
ished ambitions  are  blighted  and  blasted  every 
year  by  the  inordinate  love  of  money.  Every- 
thing seems  to  call  for  money,  and  he  is  strong 
who  falls  not.  Let  me  urge  you,  my  young 
friends,  to  form  a resolution  and  stand  firm  upon 
the  principles  of  rectitude  in  all  matters  pertain- 
ing to  the  use  of  money.  However  great  and 
pressing  may  seem  the  present  need  of  money, 
depart  not  one  iota  from  the  path  of  virtue.  You 
will  find  this  as  a shield  and  a protection  to  you 
in  many  an  hour  of  severe  temptation.  There 
is  no  safety  on  the  other  side  of  the  line.  The 
many  persons  who  defraud  friends  and  misuse 
money  never  intended  to  make  such  shipwreck 
of  life  when  the  first  evil  step  was  taken.  How 
often  it  is  stated  that  the  dishonesty  existed  for 
years  before  it  was  discovered.  It  is  not  wise  to 
walk  where  there  is  no  safety  and  where  thou- 
sands fall. 

If  you  would  avoid  temptation  form  the  habit 


62 


X-TALKS  AND  OTHER  ADDRESSES. 


of  living  within  your  means.  Do  not  dress  more 
expensively  than  you  can  afford,  nor  engage  in 
amusements  for  which  you  cannot  pay.  Do  not 
make  fast  associates  of  those  who  live  beyond 
your  means.  Do  not  pretend  what  you  are  not 
in  society  or  elsewhere,  for  sooner  or  later  you 
will  come  on  a solid  footing  and  the  change  will 
be  unpleasant.  A debt  acquired  for  a wise  pur- 
pose is  not  a bad  thing  for  a young  man.  It 
gives  him  steadfastness  and  a purpose  in  life. 
But  money  borrowed  for  what  is  useless  or  for 
pleasure  is  ruinous  to  character.  The  pleasures 
you  cannot  pay  for  to-day  it  is  not  wise  to  enjoy 
till  to-morrow.  If  a young  man  is  willing  to  pay 
the  price  and  start  out  in  the  world  with  the 
determination  of  amassing  a fortune  he  will  prob- 
ably succeed,  but  there  is  also  a probability  of 
his  spending  his  later  years  in  the  penitentiary. 
Beware  of  the  dishonest  dollar.  It  carries  with  it 
a curse  and  will  burn  a hole  in  any  man’s  pocket, 
through  which  the  honest  ones  will  escape. 
There  are  in  various  sections  of  our  country 
stately  mansions,  fallen  in  ruins.  From  one  of 
the  results  you  learn  the  story  of  money  acquired 
by  dishonest  means;  the  house  being  erected,  the 
wealth  of  its  builder,  by  the  dissipation  of  his 
sons,  has  been  squandered  and  the  family  ruined 
in  fortune  and  character,  and  its  very  name  has 
become  a by-word  and  a reproach.  It  seems  to 
be  an  inexorable  law  of  nature  that  dishonest 
money  cannot  carry  with  it  the  blessing  of  its  pos- 


SCHOOL  RIVALRY. 


63 


sessor.  He  who  would  enjoy  money  must  ac- 
quire it  honestly,  keep  it  wisely  and  use  it 
judiciously.  Study  to  know  how  to  acquire,  to 
save,  and  to  spend;  and  the  money  that  comes 
to  you  will  bring  manifold  pleasures  and  go  forth 
again  bearing  blessings  to  humanity. 

XIII. 

SCHOOL  RIVALRY. 

He  who  has  no  desire  to  excel  seldom  does 
any  work  well.  He  who  has  no  longing  for 
something  better  than  he  has  ever  known  is  but 
little  better  than  the  beasts  of  the  field  that 
perish.  To  receive  the  praise  of  the  master  work- 
man is  a worthy  incentive  to  labor.  To  endeavor 
fo  stand  among  the  first  of  his  profession  should 
be  the  ambition  of  every  young  person.  What- 
ever is  worth  doing  at  all  should  be  well  done. 
Nothing  that  ought  to  be  done  is  unimportant. 

“In  the  ancient  days  of  art, 

Builders  wrought  with  greatest  care; 

Both  the  seen  and  unseen  part, 

For  the  Gods  see  everywhere.” 

Every  student  should  strive  to  excel.  There 
is  no  one  who  does  not  have  a feeling  of  satis- 
faction when  he  solves  a problem  upon  which 
the  other  members  of  the  class  have  failed.  There 
is  nothing  wrong  in  such  a feeling.  The  boy 
who  would  just  as  soon  be  at  the  foot  as  at  the 


64  X-TALKS  AND  OTHER  ADDRESSES. 

head  of  the  class  usually  holds  his  position  at 
the  foot.  Every  one  likes  to  see  the  result  of  his 
labor,  and  the  student  determines  his  advance- 
ment by  those  in  the  same  class.  If  he  excels 
them  he  is  satisfied. 

But  some  of  you  ask  in  a class  of  twenty: 
“How  can  you  expect  each  to  excel?  There  can 
be  only  one  best.”  It  does  not  matter  so  much 
whether  you  stand  first  in  your  class  or  not,  but 
it  is  important  that  you  always  do  your  best. 
Unless  you  have  some  desire  to  excel,  you  will 
not  put  forth  your  best  efforts.  When  you  have 
done  your  very  best  it  makes  but  little  difference 
what  your  standing  may  be  in  the  class.  You 
have  surpassed  all  former  efforts,  and  you  have 
gained  strength.  You  deserve  but  little  credit 
for  standing  first  in  the  class  unless  you  obtain 
the  position  by  doing  your  level  best.  It  is  the 
effort  you  put  forth,  and  not  the  position  you 
hold  that  determines  what  praise  you  deserve. 

Rivalry  in  school  work  makes  no  enemies. 
The  warmest  friends  may  be  the  closest  rivals. 
He  who  strives  to  excel  does  his  friend  no  wrong. 
He  who  succeeds  finds  pleasure  in  his  success, 
but  no  joy  in  the  failure  of  others.  To  endeavor 
to  win  credit  in  school  work  by  dishonest  means, 
or  to  cause  the  failure  of  others  by  trickery  is 
unworthy  of  notice.  Better  to  fail  always  than 
not  to  win  by  fair  means.  None  of  you,  I trust, 
have  any  feeling  of  envy  when  you  see  the  success 
of  others.  It  is  an  evil  spirit.  Do  your  best  and 


SCHOOL  RIVALRY. 


65 


rejoice  at  what  others  accomplish.  Faithful  work 
brings  its  own  reward,  and  he  who  honestly 
strives  to  excel  will  never  lose  his  reward. 

We  offer  you  no  incentive  to  study,  save  the 
reward  that  comes  from  duty  well  done,  no  honor 
save  that  which  comes  from  having  done  your 
best,  no  boon  save  the  strength  and  knowledge 
acquired.  The  desire  to  excel  is  simply  an  in- 
centive to  study  and  a test  of  strength.  Young 
people,  as  a rule,  lack  ambition.  They  do  not 
accomplish  what  they  might  because  they  do  not 
put  forth  the  proper  effort.  Aim  high.  Whether 
in  school  or  in  the  conflict  of  life,  endeavor  to 
excel. 

Rivalry  in  school  work  becomes  an  evil  only 
-when  it  is  coupled  with  envy  and  finds  pleasure 
in  the  failure  of  others.  But  no  one  should  be 
guilty  of  such  feelings.  The  sooner  the  young 
person  realizes  that  he  cannot  always  have  his 
own  way  the  better.  Even  when  you  do  your 
best  you  will  be  excelled  by  others  of  superior 
merit.  All  you  should  ask  is  a fair  opportunity 
to  show  what  you  can  do.  Then  if  you  win  all 
well;  if  not  take  nothing  from  the  honors  of 
those  who  have  surpassed  you.  If  anyone  has 
done  better  than  you  have  done  he  surely  de- 
serves credit. 

Carry  with  you,  then,  in  whatever  work  you 
may  engag'e,  a desire  to  excel.  Treat  your  rivals 
fairly.  Be  ambitious.  Never  rest  satisfied  with 
present  attainments.  Even  though  you  may  have 


66  X-TALKS  AND  OTHER  ADDRESSES. 

surpassed  others,  go  forward  till  you  have  put 
forth  your  best  efforts.  Nothing  but  your  best 
should  ever  satisfy  you  in  your  work.  Your 
noblest  achievements  will  always  come  from  an 
honest  effort  to  do  well  the  work  before  you. 
There  are  no  honors  to  be  acquired  that  can  be 
compared  with  the  satisfaction  of  knowing  that 
in  all  the  conflicts  of  life,  you  have  done  your 
duty  and  have  done  it  well. 

XIV. 

RESPECT  FOR  AUTHORITY. 

The  lessons  of  obedience  should  be  early 
learned  and  never  forgotten.  No  one  is  too 
young  to  obey,  nor  are  any  too  old  to  respect 
authority.  In  the  home,  in  the  school,  and  in  the 
social  circle  law  reigns  supreme.  In  all  govern- 
ment and  in  all  civilized  countries  there  are  those 
placed  in  authority  over  us.  Even  among  sav- 
age tribes  the  authority  of  the  ruler  is  often  abso- 
lute. Obedience  should  be  among  the  first  les- 
sons taught  at  the  mother’s  knee.  For  he  who 
has  not  learned  to  obey  finds  no  congenial  home 
anywhere. 

Many  young  persons  have  no  respect  for 
parental  authority.  Boys  and  girls,  barely  in 
their  teens,  make  all  arrangements  to  do  a thing 
and  ask  permission  afterwards,  if  at  all.  They 
do  as  they  please  because  they  think  it  would  be 


RESPECT  FOR  AUTHORITY.  67 

an  indication  of  weakness  for  them  to  obey. 
Young  America  is  too  independent.  He  has  but 
little  respect  for  authority  of  any  kind.  The  best 
thing  that  can  happen  to  the  average  boy  is  to  be 
placed  under  the  control  of  someone  who  will 
teach  him  to  obey  and  to  respect  the  powers 
that  be. 

Every  person  likes  to  have  his  own  way.  When 
a number  of  persons  live  together  it  is  necessary 
some  should  yield  to  others.  Even  in  your  so- 
cieties here  you  cannot  all  have  your  choice  of 
officers.  The  few  must  submit  to  the  will  of  the 
majority.  Contend  earnestly  to  carry  your  point 
in  all  questions  at  issue,  but  if  defeated  yield 
gracefully  to  the  majority,  and  be  ready  to  try 
the  issue  again.  Occasionally  we  find  students 
in  school  who  become  sullen  if  they  cannot  have 
their  own  way.  There  are  some  who  will  have 
nothing  to  do  with  the  societies  unless  they  can 
be  run  according  to  their  ideas.  We  find  such 
persons  everywhere.  They  expect  to  run  every 
organization  they  join,  their  own  way,  or  ruin  it. 
Such  persons  make  themselves  miserable.  He 
who  would  lead  must  first  learn  to  obey.  The 
popular  person  is  the  one  who  can  command  so 
as  to  please  others.  Ability  is  always  recognized 
and  appreciated,  but  selfishness  is  condemned  by 
all.  He  who  will  be  great  must  be  willing  to  be 
the  servant  of  all.  It  is  by  serving,  and  not  by 
commanding  that  we  obtain  authority.  Even  in 
your  societies  he  who  seeks  honors  is  seldom  re- 


68 


X-TALKS  AND  OTHER  ADDRESSES. 


warded.  Merit  is  ever  modest  and  willing  to 
serve,  but  ready  also,  if  necessary,  to  lead. 

In  every  school  certain  rules  and  regulations 
are  necessary.  There  must  be  some  authority, 
some  power  to  decide  all  questions  of  policy  and 
government.  In  our  school  we  endeavor  to  re- 
spect your  wishes  in  all  things.  We  have  but  few 
requirements,  and  these  we  believe  you  recognize 
to  be  for  your  own  good.  We  enter  into  no  con- 
test with  you.  You  are  expected  to  do  your  duty. 
We  use  no  coercive  force.  It  is  yours  to  obey  or 
not,  as  you  think  best.  It  is  as  important  to  learn 
the  lessons  of  obedience  and  respect  for  authority 
while  in  school  as  any  other  lessons.  All  things 
cannot  be  done  according  to  your  wishes.  The 
good  of  the  school  may  require  you  to  submit  in 
many  things.  The  strong  must  help  to  bear  the 
burdens  of  the  weak.  The  question  is  not  always, 
“Is  it  right;  but  is  it  expedient?”  Of  this  one 
thing,  however,  you  may  rest  assured,  that  in 
school,  in  the  home,  or  in  society,  it  is  always 
honorable  to  obey  the  authority  placed  over  you. 
When  necessary  cheerfully  submit  to  the  will  of 
others.  Disregard  of  rightful  authority  is  revo- 
lution. No  one  ever  shows  his  independence  by 
refusing  to  obey,  but  his  willfulness.  Whether  in 
school  or  in  life  train  yourself  to  obey  in  order 
that  you  may  be  able  to  command. 

The  most  disagreeable  man  in  the  community 
is  the  one  who  has  never  learned  to  obey;  who  is 
determined  either  to  rule  or  to  ruin.  He  is  found 


IMPORTANCE  OF  HEALTH.  69 

in  school  affairs,  in  the  church  and  in  nearly  every 
social  organization.  Take  a lesson  from  him, 
and  avoid  the  great  mistake  of  his  life.  He  makes 
others  miserable,  and  does  not  secure  his  own 
happiness.  The  respect  you  have  for  authority 
while  in  school  you  will  carry  with  you  in  the 
busy  affairs  of  life.  By  obeying  you  gain 
strength.  Obedience  is  the  cornerstone  of  every 
noble  character.  It  is  a source  of  strength,  of 
power,  and  of  wisdom.  He  who  obeys  is  not 
only  manly,  but  he  is  also  wise. 

The  great  contest  of  your  life  will  not  be  for 
supremacy  over  others,  but  for  the  mastery  of 
yourself.  You  have  already  found  that  when 
you  would  do  good,  evil  is  ever  present  with  you. 
Your  passions  and  desires  must  be  brought  into 
subjection  to  your  spiritual  nature — the  law  of 
Christ.  This  will  be  a daily  conflict;  fierce  indeed 
will  be  the  battle,  but  great  is  also  the  glory  and 
the  reward  of  those  who  come  out  victorious. 

XV. 

IMPORTANCE  OF  HEALTH. 

Hundreds  of  young  persons  leave  school  every 
year  ruined  in  health.  The  student  should  have 
good  health,  but  the  violation  of  natural  laws 
brings  sad  punishment.  The  first  duty  of  every 
person  is  to  take  care  of  his  health.  Knowledge 
acquired  at  the  sacrifice  of  health  costs  too  much. 
It  not  only  renders  success  impossible,  but  makes 


70  X-TALKS  AND  OTHER  ADDRESSES. 

failure  doubly  bitter.  The  life  of  the  student  is 
not  necessarily  ruinous  to  health.  The  young- 
person  ought  to  leave  school  stronger  in  mind, 
body  and  morals  than  when  he  entered. 

Many  students  pay  but  little  regard  to  their 
health.  When  we  consider  how  they  live,  the 
wonder  is  that  more  of  them  are  not  afflicted. 
Plenty  of  pure  air  is  essential  to  the  well  being 
of  all  persons,  and  yet  many  students  pay  but 
little  attention  to  the  ventilation  of  their  rooms. 
It  is  especially  important  that  the  bed-room 
should  have  an  abundance  of  fresh  air;  and  often 
this  is  neglected  when  students  study  and  sleep 
in  the  same  room.  It  is  no  wonder,  after  breath- 
ing impure  air  all  night,  that  they  complain  of 
that  dull,  lifeless  feeling,  loss  of  appetite,  and 
lack  of  interest  in  school  work.  There  is  no  medi- 
cine like  plenty  of  pure  air,  to  give  life  and  vigor 
to  the  listless  student.  It  is  far  better  than  any 
sarsaparilla.  It  is  nature’s  elixir.  The  windows 
and  transoms  should  be  thrown  open  every  day 
when  you  are  not  in  the  room.  Keep  the  air  in 
your  room  pure  and  fresh,  if  you  would  enjoy 
good  health. 

Daily  exercise  is  essential  to  good  health. 
This  many  students  neglect.  When  they  have  a 
full  program  they  think  they  do  not  have  time 
for  exercise.  This  is  a fatal  mistake.  No  student 
is  ever  too  busy  to  spend  two  or  three  hours  every 
day  in  judicious  exercise.  However  full  the  pro- 
gram nothing  is  gained  by  using  this  time  for 


IMPORTANCE  OF  HEALTH. 


71 


study.  No  young  person  should  think  it  tiresome 
to  walk  two  or  three  miles.  A brisk  walk  in  the 
open  air  will  make  almost  anyone  feel  like  work. 
There  should  be  a regular  time  for  exercise  the 
same  as  for  study.  How  much  time  should  be 
devoted  to  exercise  depends  upon  the  student, 
but  good  health  should  be  secured. 

Many  students  secure  insufficient  sleep.  They 
study  late  and  have  but  little  energy  the  next 
day.  Nothing  is  gained  by  this.  There  is  more 
poetry  than  wisdom  in  burning  the  midnight  oil. 
It  does  not  pay  to  burn  a candle  at  both  ends. 
Time  spent  in  necessary  sleep  is  never  wasted. 
Each  person  must  determine  for  himself  how 
much  sleep  he  needs,  and  endeavor  to  secure  that 
amount  every  night.  Most  persons  get  along 
well  on  seven  hours  sleep.  Some  do  not  require 
so  much,  while  others  need  more  rest.  To  sleep 
well  the  mind  must  be  free  from  care.  Do  not 
spend  the  night  worrying  over  the  troubles  of  the 
day.  Forget  your  studies  and  school  work  and 
sleep  soundly.  It  is  sometimes  advisable  to 
spend  a half  hour  in  conversation,  or  in  light 
reading  before  retiring  for  the  night. 

Irregular  habits  will  finally  ruin  the  health  of 
any  one,  and  yet,  many  students  are  careless  in 
this  matter.  There  should  be  a regular  time  for 
sleeping,  eating,  working,  and  resting.  Fre- 
quently a student  will  study  quite  late  at  night 
and  then  not  care  to  rise  in  time  for  breakfast. 
As  a result  he  does  not  feel  like  work  the  entire 


72  X-TALKS  AND  OTHER  ADDRESSES. 

day.  When  a student  does  not  feel  like  eating 
breakfast  there  is  something  wrong.  A short 
walk  in  the  early  morning  will  frequently  bring 
back  an  appetite. 

Needless  exposure  is  another  fruitful  source 
of  sickness  among  students.  Girls,  especially, 
offend  in  this.  In  early  spring  and  even  in  the 
winter,  they  will  wear  light  dresses  in  damp 
weather  and  stand  in  the  open  air  till  they  be- 
come chilled,  and  then  go  to  their  rooms  with 
cold  feet,  and  study  for  three  or  four  hours.  Is 
it  any  wonder  that  they  become  sick?  The 
student  cannot  be  too  careful  in  regard  to  dress. 
The  rule  is  to  keep  the  feet  warm  and  the  head 
cool.  Beware  of  damp  feet.  If  you  would 
avoid  sickness  avoid  becoming  chilled,  and  keep 
your  feet  warm. 

Dissipation  and  nightly  revels  ruin  the  health 
of  many  a student.  I have  no  reference  to  those 
students  who  indulge  in  the  use  of  intoxicating 
drinks,  and  after  a restless  night  go  to  their 
classes  with  bleared  eyes  and  devoid  of  energy. 
There  is  another  kind  of  dissipation,  quite  com- 
mon among  students,  and  also  quite  ruinous  to 
the  health.  The  eating  of  candies  and  sweet 
meats  at  all  hours  of  the  day  is  the  beginning  of 
many  ills.  First  comes  the  loss  of  appetite  and 
then  dyspepsia  with  all  its  train  of  suffering.  Eat- 
ing of  peanuts  and  sardines  and  kindred  articles 
before  retiring  at  night  produces  many  evil  ef- 
fects, which  are  soon  recognized  by  the  student. 


CHEERFULNESS. 


73 


Should  it  be  desirable  to  eat  a lunch  at  night 
crackers  and  milk  would  not  be  objectionable. 
For  most  persons  it  is  unwise  to  eat  at  night.  He 
who  would  have  good  health  should  avoid  the 
habit  of  eating  between  meals.  Many  students 
eat  too  many  peanuts  and  too  much  candy.  It 
is  only  a habit  and  should  never  be  formed.  Dur- 
ing the  winter  months  an  apple  after  each  meal 
is  both  a food  and  a medicine.  Fruit  of  all  kinds 
in  season  is  conducive  to  health.  Use  it  judi- 
ciously. It  is  no  luxury. 

Study  faithfully,  earnestly;  but  look  first  to 
your  health,  so  that  you  may  have  that  strength 
of  mind  and  body  that  will  enable  you  to  make 
the  most  of  the  knowledge  acquired.  Nothing 
can  ever  compensate  you  for  the  loss  of  your 
health.  Study  to  be  of  a strong  physique,  and 
then  cultivate  your  mind  and  morals.  By  doing 
this  you  will  not  only  achieve  success,  but  you 
will  be  able  to  enjoy  the  reward  of  your  labor. 
Breathe  fresh  air,  take  plenty  of  exercise,  keep  a 
clear  conscience,  develop  the  talents  God  has 
given  you,  and  you  will  enjoy  all  the  blessings  of 
a long  and  useful  life. 


XVI. 

CHEERFULNESS. 

If  they  serve  who  simply  stand  and  wait,  cheer- 
ful people  surely  have  a mission  in  the  world. 
Blessings  rest  upon  him  who  makes  us  laugh.  If 


74  X-TALKS  AND  OTHER  ADDRESSES. 

a sigh  drives  a nail  in  our  coffin,  a hearty  laugh 
will  surely  pull  one  out.  Cheerfulness  is  a sure 
cure  for  many  of  the  ills  of  life.  A hearty  laugh 
is  better  than  medicine.  Cultivate,  then,  a cheer- 
ful disposition.  Look  on  the  bright  side  of  life. 
Laugh  when  you  can;  cry  only  when  you  must. 
A smile,  a cheerful  word  to  the  home-sick  stu- 
dent, does  much  to  make  the  world  look  brighter. 
To  the  discouraged  a cheerful  friend  is  always  a 
welcome  visitor.  A cheerful  person  adds  much 
to  the  comfort  and  happiness  of  his  friends. 
When  he  enters  the  social  circle  every  one  feels 
the  genial  influence  of  his  presence  at  once. 

Some  people  complain  because  they  are  not 
well,  and  are  not  well  because  they  are  always 
complaining.  Cheerfulness  produces  health,  and 
good  health  makes  people  cheerful.  When  your 
system  is  out  of  order,  don’t  whine,  but  try  qui- 
nine. There  is  no  use  in  the  world  for  a whine. 
Those  who  find  their  greatest  pleasure  in  com- 
plaining do  no  good.  They  are  never  happy 
unless  they  are  miserable,  and  are  always  miser- 
able because  they  are  continually  whining.  Such 
persons  make  their  friends  feel  uncomfortable. 
Their  very  presence  is  depressing.  The  world 
is  made  no  better  by  whining.  Take  things  as 
you  find  them  and  make  the  best  of  them. 

Cheerfulness  can  be  cultivated.  When  you 
can,  say  a bright  word.  It  is  not  necessary  to 
say  cross  things,  and  think  over  how  badly  you 
are  treated  by  others.  Cheerfulness  is  not  care- 


CHEERFULNESS. 


75 


lessness.  The  cheerful  person  is  always  serious. 
He  who  is  always  ready  to  laugh  with  you  will  be 
the  first  to  comfort  you  in  your  sorrows.  It  is 
seldom  necessary  to  make  a sharp  reply.  Even 
an  impertinent  question  may  be  so  answered  as 
to  give  no  offense.  Endeavor  to  leave  the  genial 
influence  of  your  presence  upon  the  strangers 
you  meet.  A word  of  cheer  may  be  cherished 
for  years,  although  the  person  by  whom  spoken 
may  be  unknown. 

The  teacher  especially  should  be  of  a cheerful 
disposition.  We  fear  that  many  a good  boy  has 
been  punished  because  his  teacher  was  sullen 
and  morose.  A cheerful  teacher  will  have  cheer- 
ful pupils,  and  a smile  will  be  found  a more  ef- 
fective means  of  government  than  a frown.  As 
the  teacher  is,  so  is  the  school;  and  he  who  would 
have  cheerful  pupils  must  study  to  be  cheerful 
himself. 

Carry  with  you  a cheerful  disposition.  Let 
every  one  you  meet  feel  the  sunshine  of  your 
presence.  Keep  a clear  conscience,  and  you  will 
have  but  few  occasions  to  wear  a long  face.  Do 
your  best  under  all  circumstances,  and  then  never 
worry  over  results.  It  is  your  mission  to  sow; 
others  may  do  the  reaping.  When  things  don’t 
go  to  suit  you  make  the  best  of  it,  but  don’t 
worry.  It  is  not  work  that  wears  out  so  many 
young  lives,  but  constant  worrying  about  what 
can’t  be  helped.  Work  earnestly,  sleep  soundly, 
and  live  cheerfully. 


76  X-TALKS  AND  OTHER  ADDRESSES. 

Be  true,  be  earnest,  be  cheerful.  Carry  with 
you  the  sunshine  of  a cheerful  disposition,  and 
you  will  always  be  a welcome  visitor.  It  will  add 
happiness  to  your  own  life,  make  you  more  use- 
ful in  the  world,  and  enable  you  to  leave  pleasant 
memories  behind  you  when  your  work  is  ended. 

XVII. 

THE  WAITING  TIME. 

Waiting  is  sometimes  as  important  as  working. 
The  waiting  time,  however,  always  comes  after 
the  work  is  done.  In  the  old  song  we  sing  the 
waiting  time  is  the  hardest  time  of  all.  Some 
persons  succeed  remarkably  at  waiting,  but  they 
make  the  mistake  of  waiting  before  working. 
They  dream  and  wait  for  the  reaping  time  and 
neglect  the  sowing.  When  the  harvest  time 
comes  they  have  no  sheaves,  no  golden  grain. 

It  is  well  to  know  how,  and  then  to  wait.  It 
is  given  to  no  man  to  see  the  full  result  of  his 
labors.  Much  of  our  work  is  done  in  faith.  It 
is  not  necessary  to  quit  working  in  order  to 
await  results.  Keep  working,  improve  the  op- 
portunities as  they  pass,  and  in  due  season  will 
come  the  reaping  time.  He  who  folds  his  hands 
and  waits  during  the  bright  hours  of  the  day  may 
wait  patiently  but  he  will  receive  no  reward. 
Rest  follows  labor.  It  is  only  when  the  work  is 
fully  done  that  we  can  await  the  results. 

Disappointments  come  to  everyone.  Then  it 


THE  WAITING  TIME. 


77 


is  well  to  be  able  to  work  and  to  wait.  If  you 
expect  a position  and  do  not  get  it,  do  not  sit 
down  and  wait  for  another  opportunity  for  doing 
something.  Go  to  work  and  find  a position  or 
make  one.  Work  while  you  wait.  Many  a man 
makes  a fortune  while  his  neighbor  sits  and  sighs 
and  waits  for  something  to  turn  up.  When  you 
cannot  do  what  you  would  do,  do  what  you  can. 
Laugh  at  difficulties.  When  things  don’t  turn 
up  to  suit  you,  turn  them  up.  It  is  of  such  stuff 
heroes  are  made.  Waste  no  time  in  waiting  when 
you  ought  to  be  sowing.  Misfortunes  may  over- 
take you;  they  cannot  always  be  avoided.  But  if 
you  fall  be  sure  that  you  fall  on  your  feet.  If  it 
is  necessary  to  give  up  your  chosen  work,  do 
something  else.  Fortune  smiles  upon  the  brave 
who  yield  not  to  discouragement.  Every  per- 
son should  be  able  to  do  one  thing  well,  and 
many  things  passably  well.  The  object  of  an 
education  is  to  give  you  command  of  your  facul- 
ties, and  to  enable  you  to  master  the  situation 
when  the  unexpected  happens.  Any  one  can 
steer  to  port  when  all  winds  are  favorable,  but 
when  the  tides  and  storms  are  adverse  only  the 
brave  and  daring  anchor  in  the  harbor.  How 
foolish  for  the  boy  who  has  the  twelve  bladed 
knife  to  stand  and  cry  when  he  breaks  one  blade. 
Let  him  open  another  blade  and  go  to  work.  If 
you  cannot  do  what  you  can  do  best,  do  not  wait 
for  brighter  days,  but  do  what  you  can  do  well. 

But  there  comes  a time  when  there  is  nothing 


78  X-TALKS  AND  OTHER  ADDRESSES. 

to  be  done  but  to  wait.  When  the  ballots  have 
all  been  cast,  and  the  polls  closed  there  is  nothing 
to  be  done  but  to  await  the  result  of  the  counting. 
That  is  the  trying  time.  To  wait  patiently  and 
not  worry.  Hard  work  kills  but  few  persons.  It 
is  the  worry  when  the  work  is  done  that  causes 
so  many  persons  to  give  up  the  work.  Each  day 
do  your  best,  and  then  worry  not.  Await  the 
results  of  your  labors.  If  mistakes  have  been 
made,  no  tears  can  undo  them.  The  past  is  gone, 
the  record  must  stand.  But  worry  not;  all  the 
bright  golden  years  of  the  future  are  before  you. 
With  a brave  heart  and  a courageous  spirit  take 
up  your  work  and  endeavor  to  avoid  mistakes, 
and  by  the  faithful  performance  of  duty  and  by 
sincere  repentance  redeem  the  errors  of  the  past. 
Faithfully  perform  your  duty  always,  and  then 
wait  and  worry  not.  Results  will  take  care  of 
themselves. 

“The  wonders  of  the  life  to  be 

We  weave  from  colors  all  our  own; 

And  in  the  fields  of  destiny 
We  reap  as  we  have  sown.” 

Young  people  sometimes  become  impatient 
because  they  do  not  at  once  see  the  result  of 
their  labors.  They  engage  in  some  work,  and 
too  soon  expect  results.  It  requires  years  of 
patient  "work  to  succeed  in  any  profession.  It  is 
at  such  times  that  they  should  learn  to  work 
while  they  wait.  It  requires  years  to  accomplish 


A TALK  TO  GIRLS. 


79 


any  great  work.  No  one  should  expect  to  reap 
at  once.  Strong  character  is  the  growth  of  years. 
A reputation  based  upon  a noble  character  is  not 
formed  in  a day.  Many  of  the  things  we  most 
highly  prize  are  the  work  of  a life  time.  The 
good  things  in  this  life  come  by  chance  to  no  one. 
The  past  we  cannot  change;  the  future  we  cannot 
hasten;  the  present  is  ours  to  be  made  glorious. 
Then  worry  not,  wait  not,  but  labor  on.  With 
every  present  duty  well  done  we  cannot  fail;  but 
some  time  and  somehow,  we  shall  come  rejoicing, 
bearing  the  sheaves  with  us. 

“Let  us  then  be  up  and  doing, 

With  a heart  for  any  fate; 

Still  achieving,  still  pursuing, 

Learn  to  labor  and  to  wait.” 

XVIII. 

A TALK  TO  GIRLS. 

Much  that  has  been  said  in  these  morning 
talks  applies  more  especially  to  the  boys.  This 
morning  I wish  to  talk  to  the  girls.  I am  aware 
that  within  recent  years  many  new  avenues  have 
been  opened  to  women.  In  fact  she  is  free  to 
undertake  any  vocation  now  entered  by  men. 
But  for  all  that  man  is  still  a creature  of  ambi- 
tion; and  the  girl  we  love  is  a creature  of  the 
home.  Our  girls  will  find  their  greatest  glory, 
not  in  hunting  for  new  worlds  to  conquer,  but 


8o  X-TALKS  AND  OTHER  ADDRESSES. 

in  conquering  those  that  lie  at  their  feet;  not  in 
devoting  their  energies  to  prove  that  they  can 
do  what  man  can  do,  but  in  doing  well  what  he 
cannot  do. 

I have  never  been  much  impressed  by  the  re- 
cital of  woman's  wrong.  The  women  whom  I 
know  seem  about  as  free  as  I am,  and  to  enjoy 
life  about  as  well.  I have  never  been  stirred  to 
buckle  on  my  sword  and  like  some  knight  of 
old  go  forth  and  devote  my  life  to  freeing  women 
from  their  bondage.  While  there  is  sin  in  the 
world  there  will  always  be  wrongs  to  be  righted; 
but  these  are  confined  to  no  sex,  for  pain  and 
suffering  are  common  to  all  ages  and  conditions 
of  humanity.  No  law  can  make  it  impossible 
for  man  to  sin.  The  demand  is  not  so  much  to- 
day for  new  opportunities  as  it  is  the  ability  to 
improve  well  those  which  now  lie  before  us.  I 
would  not  debar  women  from  entering  any  voca- 
tion or  occupation  for  which  she  is  fitted.  Let 
her  do  anything  she  can  do  well.  I admit  that 
some  women  can  sing  bass.  While  the  work  of 
woman  may  not  be  as  ambitious  as  that  of  man 
it  is  no  less  important.  It  is  because  that  in  some 
respects  it  is  more  important,  that  I present  to 
you  this  subject  this  morning.  Talk  of  the  bond- 
age of  women ! No  queen  upon  her  throne  exerts 
a more  potential  influence  than  it  is  possible  for 
a woman  to  exert  over  her  associates.  Let  fair 
women  take  a firm  stand  for  purity  and  right, 
and  the  world  bows  at  her  feet.  It  is  more  nearly 


A TALK  TO  GIRLS. 


8l 


true  than  it  is  at  first  supposed  that  women  can 
control  the  destinies  of  men.  How  many  girls 
disregard  this  divine  gift,  and  like  Esau  sell  their 
glorious  birthright  for  a bitter  mess  of  pottage. 
Girls,  study  to  use  well  the  power  you  hold  in 
your  hand.  It  will  make  you  both  useful  and 
happy. 

Because  a woman’s  power  is  so  great  she 
should  be  the  more  careful  of  what  she  says  and 
does.  Let  her  once  lose  this  power  and  there 
are  none  so  weak.  Many  an  unfortunate  girl 
can  trace  her  downfall  to  one  year’s  thoughtless, 
aimless  drifting.  She  who  would  be  safe  must 
be  in  earnest  and  live  for  some  purpose.  Girls 
cannot  be  too  careful  of  their  conduct,  and  their 
associates.  Social  laws  do  not  apply  alike  to  men 
and  women,  but  there  is  no  distinction  in  the 
moral  code.  A girl  should  not  be  even  indecent. 
There  are  very  many  things  not  sinful  that  are 
imprudent.  It  is  a good  rule  to  avoid  all  things 
that  look  like  sin,  and  always  give  yourself  the 
benefit  of  the  doubt.  A wrong  step  is  easily  made 
and  so  hard  for  a girl  to  retrace.  The  torn  hand, 
the  bleeding  heart,  the  bitter  anguish,  only  the 
suffering  know.  When  among  strangers  girls 
cannot  be  too  careful  of  their  associates,  espe- 
cially of  the  opposite  sex.  Associate  with  no 
young  man  of  whom  you  know  nothing.  There 
may  be  contamination  in  his  touch,  and  death  in 
his  influence.  When  it  is  your  privilege  to  se- 
cure homage  from  the  best,  destroy  not  your  in- 


82 


X-TALKS  AND  OTHER  ADDRESSES. 


fluence  by  wandering  after  every  ignis  fatuus  of  a 
man  that  passes  through  the  neighborhood. 

Idleness  is  a great  danger  to  girls.  Each  one 
of  you  should  be  prepared  to  do  something  useful 
in  the  world,  and  to  be  able  to  earn  your  own 
living.  Idleness  and  laziness  ruin  more  girls 
than  work  ever  kills.  If  you  have  nothing  else 
to  do  raise  strawberries,  chickens — or  do  some- 
thing in  which  you  have  a special  interest.  Do 
not  spend  all  your  time  in  reading  novels  or 
thrumming  an  old  piano  as  if  trying  to  throw  it 
into  contortions.  To  be  useful  is  to  be  noble, 
and  to  endeavor  to  do  something  to  make  the 
world  better. 

Be  true  to  your  sex.  Have  a kind  word  and 
a helping  hand  for  the  weak  and  fallen.  Let  your 
mission  in  the  world  be  to  do,  to  help.  Spurn  no 
task,  however  humble;  refuse  no  duty,  however 
exalted.  When  you  cannot  lead,  follow;  when 
you  cannot  march,  cheer. 

i. 

“Be  good,  sweet  maid,  and  let  who  will  be  clever; 

Do  noble  deeds — not  dream  them  all  day  long, 
And  thus  make  life  and  death,  and  all  the  vast 
forever. 

One  glad  sweet  song.” 

XIX. 

THE  REWARDS  OF  THE  STUDENT. 

The  question  will  naturally  arise,  of  what  worth 
is  all  the  care  and  study  of  a student’s  life?  What 


THE  REWARDS  OF  THE  STUDENT.  83 

reward  is  ours  for  all  the  days  and  months  of 
sacrifice  and  mental  effort?  Knowledge,  like 
virtue,  brings  its  own  reward.  Truth  is  pleasing 
to  the  mind,  and  there  is  pleasure  in  the  acquisi- 
tion of  knowledge.  To  know  is  to  enjoy.  To  be 
ignorant  is  not  to  live,  but  simply  to  exist. 

Someone  has  compared  man  to  a many  bladed 
knife.  Education  opens  the  blades.  Some  per- 
sons can  use  only  one  or  two  blades,  while  others 
have  the  use  of  all.  What  advantage  is  there  in 
having  a twelve  bladed  knife  if  only  two  blades 
can  be  opened?  What  matters  it  what  intellec- 
tual ability  a man  may  possess,  if  it  is  not  culti- 
vated? The  development  of  the  intellectual  fac- 
ulties is  the  duty  of  every  one.  The  divine  com- 
mand comes  to  every  one  to  improve  his  talents 
and  to  make  the  best  of  himself.  There  comes 
to  every  student  the  pleasure  of  a duty  well  done, 
the  satisfaction  of  knowing,  and  the  power  that 
knowledge  brings. 

There  is  something  noble — yes,  divine — in  liv- 
ing up  to  the  best  that  is  in  one’s  self.  Let  a 
young  man  stand  forth  beneath  the  blue  skies  of 
heaven  and  recognize  his  kinship  with  angels, 
think  God’s  thoughts,  and  live  up  to  the  full  de- 
velopment of  all  his  faculties.  What  can  be  more 
inspiring  than  this?  What  can  appeal  more 
strongly  to  all  that  is  best  and  noblest  in  human- 
ity? Truth  leads,  knowledge  follows.  Those 
who  seek  find. 

The  sacrifices  made  by  the  student  bring  forth 


84  X-TALKS  AND  OTHER  ADDRESSES. 

fruit  in  after  years.  We  are  now  preparing  for 
life.  These  are  the  years  of  sowing;  soon  will 
come  the  harvest  time  when  we  shall  realize 
something  of  the  benefit  of  these  weary  hours  of 
study  and  labor.  How  much  easier  will  be  all 
the  tasks  of  the  future,  for  these  days  of  prepara- 
tion. The  power  acquired,  and  the  mental  cul- 
ture will  bring  forth  fruit  an  hundred  fold.  Now 
we  look  to  the  future,  but  there  is  no  magic  in 
the  years  to  come.  Nothing  will  bloom  in  these 
fields  fairer  than  that  which  is  sown  to-day. 
Nothing  well  done  can  ever  be  lost.  Every  hour 
devoted  to  faithful  study  will  bear  fruit  sometime. 
The  student  can  lose  nothing.  The  knowledge 
is  his,  the  power  is  his,  the  pleasure  is  his,  and 
the  final  reward  shall  be  his. 

No  man  lives  for  himself  alone.  He  lives  for 
the  good  he  can  do.  These  years  of  study  and 
training  will  give  a fullness  and  completeness  to 
your  life  that  you  would  acquire  in  no  other  way. 
Life  will  mean  more  to  you.  The  sun  will  shine 
brighter,  and  you  will  see  greater  possibilities  for 
improvement  in  those  around  you.  You  will  be 
able  to  see  things  in  their  true  relation,  and  to 
discern  that  which  is  of  importance.  It  is  indeed 
something  to  know  that  there  is  a place  in  the 
world  for  you,  and  that  you  have  the  ability  to 
point  out  to  some  one  the  way  to  a nobler  destiny. 
These  years  of  preparation  will  help  you  to  live, 
and  oh,  what  a privilege  to  live  up  to  the  full  en- 
joyment of  all  your  faculties.  Yes,  it  is  your  high 


THE  REWARDS  OF  THE  STUDENT.  85 

privilege  to  live  here  full  of  pleasure  and  some- 
where, somehow,  for  millions  of  years,  a higher 
and  a better  life. 

Be  a student  always.  Make  truth  your  watch- 
word and  your  guide.  Every  day  will  bring  its 
reward.  As  the  years  come  and  go  you  will 
acquire  knowledge  and  wisdom,  while  every  day 
will  bring  to  you  some  of  the  enjoyments  of  life. 
As  your  talents  increase  so  will  your  ability  to 
use  them.  There  will  be  nothing  useless  or  low- 
in  your  life.  Truth  is  elevating,  and  will  lead 
you  to  a higher  destiny.  It  is  a ray  of  light  from 
the  divine  mind.  Follow  it  with  your  face  to  the 
light,  and  you  will  find  the  source  of  all  truth, 
all  knowledge,  and  all  power. 

In  closing  this  series  of  talks  let  me  urge  you 
not  to  forget  the  final  reward.  As  you  live  here 
so  will  you  live  in  the  brighter  hereafter.  Live 
up  to  the  best  that  is  within  you  always.  Keep 
alive  the  little  spark  of  celestial  fire  called  con- 
science, by  which  you  can  claim  kinship  with  the 
angels.  Look  up,  not  dowm.  It  is  your  high 
privilege  to  know  something  of  the  plans  by 
which  the  world  was  made.  Let  the  great  aim 
of  your  life  be  to  know  the  truth.  Endeavor  to 
shape  and  mould  your  life  and  character  in  ac- 
cordance with  the  teachings  of  the  Bible.  Do 
this  and  you  will  be  enabled  to  erect  a structure 
that  will  stand  forth  in  glory  and  brightness  when 
all  else  has  passed  away.  It  is  this  alone  that  will 
abide,  and  when  the  cares  and  anxieties  of  a busy 


86  X-TALKS  AND  OTHER  ADDRESSES. 

life  are  over,  you  will  occupy  an  eternal  tenantry 
in  God’s  boundless  universe,  and  in  the  bright 
beyond  sit  at  the  Master’s  feet,  and  at  last  have 
all  mysteries  explained. 


WHY  WE  SHOULD  BE  THANKFUL. 

Thanksgiving  address,  read  in  U.  B.  church, 
Reliance,  Va.,  November  26,  1896: 

It  has  been  said  that  man  can  be  placed  in  no 
condition  when  he  can  truly  say  “This  is  the 
worst.”  Thankfulness  is  a duty.  It  is  a duty  we 
owe  to  ourselves,  our  neighbors  and  our  God. 
Look  for  the  silver  lining.  It  is  there.  God’s 
“pavilion  round  about  him  may  be  dark  waters 
and  the  thick  clouds  of  the  skies.” 

It  is  impossible  to  name  all  the  things  for 
which  we  should  be  thankful.  Our  lives  are  filled 
so  full  of  good  things  that  we  do  not  appreciate 
them  or  realize  their  value.  Only  what  we  lose 
we  seem  to  fully  prize. 

As  a nation  we  have  many  things  for  which  to 
be  thankful.  During  the  past  year,  no  war  has 
wasted  our  resources,  no  famine  has  consumed 
our  strength,  no  pestilence  has  devastated  our 
cities.  Peace  has  been  within  all  our  borders. 
This  has  also  been  a year  of  plenty.  Never  be- 
fore has  earth  yielded  her  products  so  bountifully. 
The  barns  are  filled  and  long  trains  pass  from 
west  to  east  bearing  the  abundant  surplus  to  the 


WHY  WE  SHOULD  BE  THANKFUL.  87 

markets  of  the  world.  Want  and  suffering  need 
not  exist.  There  is  food  for  all. 

Personally  we  have  many  things  for  which  to 
be  thankful.  Health,  strength,  home,  friends, 
hope,  ambition  and  a disposition  to  make  the 
most  of  life.  It  is  sweet  to  live.  The  sunshine 
and  the  storms,  the  summer’s  heat  and  the  win- 
ter’s cold  all  contribute  to  make  the  world  a pleas- 
ant abode  for  man. 

Man’s  mastery  over  nature  each  year  adds  to 
his  strength  and  to  his  enjoyment.  A desire  to 
know  the  truth,  a will  to  master  difficulties  is 
one  of  the  great  blessings  of  a student’s  life.  To 
think  God’s  thoughts  and  to  read  the  Epic  poem 
of  creation  that  was  written  upon  the  rocks  and 
sands  when  “the  morning  stars  sang  together’’ 
is  the  high  incentive  held  out  to  him  who  will 
cause  nature  to  reveal  her  secrets.  Surely  God 
has  been  good  to  us  in  giving  us  a desire  for 
truth  and  the  ability  to  know  at  least  a part  of 
the  designs  of  nature  and  something  of  the  power 
that  turns  every  axle  in  the  great  wheel  work  of 
creation. 

I am  thankful  that  God  created  us  in  his  own 
image,  that  he  endowed  us  with  a divine  essence 
that  will  live  forever,  and  that  by  the  plan  of  re- 
demption we  can  talk  with  him  with  the  assur- 
ance that  he  hears  us  and  will  grant  all  requests 
made  in  accordance  with  his  will.  I am  thankful 
that  there  is  power  in  the  Christian  religion  to 
save  the  world  and  also  that  it  comes  to  us  per- 


X-TALKS  AND  OTHER  ADDRESSES. 


sonally  to  uphold  us  amid  the  cares  and  trials  of 
every  day  life.  Surely  the  faith  that  enabled  John, 
exiled  on  lonely  Patinos,  to  behold  the  Celestial 
City,  that  caused  Paul,  beaten  with  many  stripes, 
bleeding  and  bound  in  prison  to  sing  songs,  and 
thousands  of  martyrs  in  all  ages  to  go  exulting  to 
the  most  cruel  death  will  uphold  us,  if  we  trust 
implicitly  in  the  sustaining  power  of  the  Holy 
Spirit.  Take  from  the  world  the  Cross  of  Cal- 
vary, the  Religion  of  Jesus,  the  teachings  of  the 
Bible,  and  who  then  would  care  to  live?  Who 
would  dare  to  die? 

I am  thankful  for  a religion  of  doing  and  not 
of  thinking,  that  the  Divine  Master  went  about 
doing  good,  and  that  the  principles  of  Chris- 
tianity may  be  learned  as  well  from  what  Christ 
did  as  from  what  he  taught.  It  is  this  that  binds 
us  together,  that'  enables  us  to  appreciate  our 
friends  and  neighbors,  that  doubles  all  our  joys 
and  divides  our  sorrows. 

I am  thankful  that  it  is  an  individual  religion, 
that  it  comes  to  me  personally,  that  the  promise 
of  the  upholding  power  of  the  Holy  Spirit  comes 
to  me,  and  that  I have  faith  to  believe  that  the 
kind  Father  doeth  all  things  well. 

I am  thankful  for  the  home  I have,  the  friends 
I have,  the  health  I have,  the  hope  I have,  and 
above  all  for  the  faith  I have,  that  though  many 
things  seem  dark  and  hard  to  understand,  that  in 
God’s  own  time  all  shall  be  made  plain  and  that 
then  I shall  clearly  know  that  all  things  have  been 


WHY  WE  SHOULD  BE  THANKFUL.  89 

for  the  best,  and  that  the  tangled  thread  of  life 
has  been  held  in  God’s  own  hand. 

I am  thankful  that  it  has  been  my  privilege  to 
know  these  young  people.  I am  glad  that  I have 
come  in  contact  with  your  fresh  young  lives  so 
full  of  hope  and  ambition.  I am  glad  that  you 
find  it  sweet  to  live,  that  life  holds  so  much  in 
store  for  you.  Ambition  is  no  cheat.  I am  glad 
that  you  have  high  hopes  of  a nobler  future,  that 
you  dream  of  garlands  to  be  won,  of  honors  to  be 
achieved  not  by  the  favoritism  of  fortune,  but 
by  the  power  of  your  own  mind,  and  the  strength 
of  your  own  arm.  True  it  is  that  many  bright 
hopes  will  wither,  many  cherished  ambitions  fail, 
but  after  all,  the  heroes  of  the  world  are  those 
who  are  willing  to  do  and  to  dare. 

I am  glad  that  you  are  striving  to  excel,  and  I 
rejoice  with  you  at  the  victories  you  will  win  in 
the  realms  of  philosophy,  in  the  fields  of  science, 
in  the  arena  of  politics  and  in  the  more  trying 
ordeals  of  the  warrior.  This  should  be  truly  a 
day  of  thanksgiving  with  life  so  full  of  hope  and 
promise.  Make  every  day  one  of  thanksgiving — 
thanks  for  the  victories  won,  and  the  strength 
acquired. 

I would  not  have  you  careless  of  the  honors 
that  come  to  those  who  win  the  battles  of  life. 
They  are  worth  striving  for.  But  live  not  for 
these  alone.  Endeavor  each  day  to  shape  your 
character  in  accordance  with  the  teachings  of  the 
Bible.  This  will  give  to  your  life  a fullness  and 


go  X-TALKS  AND  OTHER  ADDRESSES. 

completeness  that  nothing  else  will.  This  is  the 
only  true  success. 

And  then  when  your  strength  fails,  when  your 
work  is  done,  when  the  last  battle  has  been 
fought,  the  last  victory  won,  you  can  leave  be- 
hind you  a record  of  deeds  of  kindness,  love,  and 
gathering  up  the  trophies  of  a well  spent  life, 
as  offering  at  the  feet  of  the  Prince  of  Peace,  join 
with  the  innumerable  throng  which  no  man  can 
number  in  the  glad  acclaim : 

“All  hail  the  power  of  Jesus’  name, 

Let  angels  prostrate  fall ; 

Bring  forth  the  royal  diadem, 

And  crown  him  Lord  of  all.” 

ON  THE  BURIAL  OF  MOSES. 

Address  before  the  Y.  P.  C.  U.  of  the  U.  B. 
church,  Reliance,  Va.,  May  12,  1895: 

It  is  not  my  intention  to  preach  a sermon  or 
anything  of  the  kind,  but  the  line  of  thought 
that  I shall  endeavor  to  present  to  you  has  been 
suggested  to  my  mind  by  the  ninth  verse  of  the 
Book  of  Jude:  “Yet  Michael,  the  archangel, 
when  contending  with  the  devil,  disputed  about 
the  body  of  Moses,  durst  not  bring  against  him 
a railing  accusation,  but  said,  the  Lord  rebuke 
thee.” 

The  Book  of  Jude  has  caused  a great  deal  of 
trouble  to  commentators.  A great  many  things 


ON  THE  BURIAL  OF  MOSES. 


91 


are  found  in  the  Book  of  Jude  to  which  none 
of  the  various  apostles  have  made  any  reference 
whatever,  and  this  passage  especially  has  given 
rise  to  a great  many  theories.  Some  commen- 
tators think  that  it  has  special  reference  to  the 
burial  of  Moses  on  Mount  Nebo  that  the  devil 
contended  with  Michael,  that  inasmuch  as  Moses 
led  the  children  of  Israel  through  the  wilderness 
that  he  should  receive  a royal  burial;  that  his 
burial  place  should  be  marked  and  honored  by 
the  people  whom  he  had  led  from  slavery  and 
bondage  and  it  is  thought  that  the  object  and 
design  of  the  burial  of  Moses  by  Satan  was  that 
the  tomb  of  Moses  might  be  regarded  as  a holy 
place,  as  a Mecca  to  which  they  would  make 
pilgrimages  and  thus  lead  them  imperceptibly 
into  relic  worship  and  idolatry.  Others  think 
that  the  body  of  Moses  has  reference  to  the 
Jewish  church  inasmuch  as  the  body  of  Christ 
has  reference  to  the  Christian  dispensation. 

I do  not  care  to  differ  with  commentators  who 
have  investigated  this  subject  and  spent  many 
years  of  study  upon  it,  but  yet  it  seems  to  me 
that  there  could  have  been  no  great  grounds  for 
contention  at  that  time.  What  concern  was  it  to 
the  devil  where  Moses  was  buried?  Or  what 
cause  of  this  disputing,  when  the  work  for  which 
he  had  been  raised  up  had  been  accomplished  and 
he  had  been  received  into  the  realms  of  glory? 
The  promise  had  been  given  unto  Abraham.  It 
had  been  conferred  a second  time  to  Isaac.  It 


92  X-TALKS  AND  OTHER  ADDRESSES. 

was  confirmed  unto  Jacob  that  the  land  of 
Canaan  should  be  an  everlasting  habitation  to 
the  Jewish  people,  and  that  they  should  be  God’s 
own  people.  When  they  had  gone  down  into 
Egypt,  and  had  been  400  years  in  bondage,  it 
seemed  that  the  plan  of  the  Almighty  had  been 
frustrated.  Four  hundred  years  in  bondage  will 
break  the  spirit  of  any  people.  The  condition 
of  the  Jews  was  indeed  extreme.  There  was  but 
little  hope  that  they  would  ever  again  reach  the 
promised  land,  and  yet  in  the  dispensation  of 
God’s  providence  a man  had  been  brought  forth, 
Moses.  He  stirred  up  the  patriotism  and  the 
loyalty  and  the  religion  of  the  Jewish  people. 
He  called  to  mind  the  promise  that  had  been 
made  to  their  fathers,  and  by  miraculous  power 
he  induced  Pharaoh  to  consent  that  they  should 
be  released.  He  led  them  across  the  Red  Sea. 
He  led  them  forty  years  in  the  wilderness.  He 
called  down  manna  from  the  heavens.  Pie 
sweetened  the  waters  of  Marah.  There  was  a 
miraculous  supply  of  flesh.  By  a stroke  he  called 
forth  the  water  from  the  rock  of  Horeb.  When 
they  begun  their  wanderings,  they  were  a slavish 
and  subdued  people,  but  now  instead  of  being  a 
nation  of  slaves,  they  are  a warlike  people,  and 
ready  to  cross  over  the  Jordan  and  take  posses- 
sion of  the  land  of  Canaan.  And  now  when 
Moses  had  endured  all  this;  when  he  had  ac- 
complished the  work  for  which  he  had  been 
called  forth,  what  contention  could  there  have 


ON  THE  BURIAL  OF  MOSES.  93 

been  with  Michael,  the  archangel,  about  the  dis- 
position of  his  body? 

When  Adam  was  placed  in  the  Garden,  it  was 
the  great  wish  of  Satan  to  cause  him  to  sin. 
When  the  apple  was  eaten  and  he  had  fallen  and 
was  driven  from  the  Garden,  there  was  glory, 
there  was  rejoicing  in  the  regions  of  Satan.  God 
had  been  defeated.  His  plan  for  once  had  been 
frustrated,  and  when  the  children  had  gone  into 
Egypt,  and  were  in  bondage,  the  plan  of  God 
seemed  to  be  frustrated,  but  at  the  time  of  Moses’ 
death,  when  Joshua  had  been  blessed,  when 
Moses  had  lain  his  hands  upon  him,  and  he  was 
commissioned  to  take  possession  of  the  prom- 
ised land,  Satan  then  acknowledged  defeat.  He 
had  met  God  again  in  battle  and  was  defeated, 
because  the  very  mission  for  which  Moses  had 
been  brought  forth  is  now  accomplished.  It  is 
true  that  he  sinned  in  regard  to  the  circumcision 
of  his  son.  It  is  true  that  he  had  sinned  when 
he  struck  the  rock  Horeb  and  had  failed  to  sanc- 
tify God  in  the  presence  of  the  children  of  Israel, 
but  all  these  things  had  been  forgiven.  Moses, 
though  120  years  old,  “his  eye  not  dimmed,  nor 
his  natural  force  abated,"  is  permitted  from 
Mount  Nebo  in  the  land  of  Moab,  his  eyes  mir- 
aculously opened,  to  look  into  the  land  of  Ca- 
naan, 160  miles  long  and  sixty  miles  wide.  It 
was  a rich  land.  It  was  to  be  their  everlasting 
inheritance,  and  as  Moses  looked  to  the  land  he 
also  with  spiritual  eye  looked  beyond  to  that 


94  X-TALKS  AND  OTHER  ADDRESSES. 

other  Canaan  where  an  eternal  tenantry  had  been 
prepared  for  him.  His  work  is  completed.  One 
of  the  grandest  careers  ever  allotted  to  man  is 
ended,  and  though  many  commentators  think 
so,  I think  that  the  contention  for  Moses  did  not 
occur  at  this  time,  but  rather  am  I inclined  to 
think  that  the  contention  in  regard  to  the  body  of 
Moses  occurred  in  the  land  of  Egypt. 

Moses  was  miraculously  saved  from  the  un- 
just and  cruel  edict  of  one  of  the  kings  of  Egypt. 
He  was  brought  up  as  the  son  of  the  daughter  of 
Pharaoh,  educated  in  all  the  mysteries  of  Egyp- 
tion  science,  and  in  all  the  intricacies  of  the 
Egyptian  philosophy,  in  all  the  ceremonies  of  the 
Egyptian  religion.  He  is  heir  to  the  throne. 
Please  bear  in  mind  that  Moses  was  heir  to  the 
throne  of  Egypt,  and  yet  when  he  was  come  to 
years,  forty  years  of  age,  the  question  came  to 
Moses,  “Shall  I remain  here  in  the  courts  of 
Pharaoh  and  become  the  ruler  of  Egypt  and 
thus  help  my  people,  or  shall  I rebel  and  be  true 
to  the  teachings  of  my  mother,  to  the  traditions 
of  the  Jewish  people,  and  cast  my  lot  among  an 
enslaved  people?”  Then  is  when  the  contention 
arose.  That  to  my  mind  is  when  Michael  the 
archangel  had  a dispute  whether  Moses  should 
remain  in  the  court  of  Egypt,  or  go  down  yonder 
as  a slave.  Yes,  then  was  the  contention.  Be- 
cause if  Satan  can  now  frustrate  the  plans  of 
God  he  has  won  another  victory.  If  Satan  can 
induce  Moses  to  remain  in  the  court,  if  Satan 


ON  THE  BURIAL  OF  MOSES. 


95 


can  induce  Moses  to  remain  in  the  temple,  and 
become  king  of  Egypt,  he  has  frustrated  the 
plans  of  God.  Another  man  must  be  called  up 
by  miraculous  power  to  lead  Israel  out  of  bond- 
age. 

Michael  cannot  bring  a railing  accusation 
against  him,  but  says  “the  Lord  rebuke  thee.” 
And  I believe  that  when  these  great  hours  of 
decision  come  that  the  angels  help  and  assist  us 
as  they  did  Moses.  I believe  the  angels  helped 
Moses  to  form  that  decision,  that  the  angels 
helped  Moses  to  throw  aside  all  of  the  honors  of 
the  Egyptian  court,  that  came  to  him  who  was 
sole  heir  to  the  throne,  that  he  might  serve  and 
save  his  people.  Look  for  a moment.  Egypt 
was  one  of  the  most  powerful  nations  of  the 
earth.  Her  caravans  crossed  the  desert  bringing 
the  riches  of  the  African  coast  to  her  store 
houses.  The  maritime  nations  bordering  on  the 
Mediterranean  deposited  their  profits  in  the  ware- 
houses of  Egypt,  and  across  the  Arabian  desert 
came  the  riches  of  the  Orient  to  adorn  and  add 
to  the  luxuries  of  the  kings  of  Egypt.  All. of 
these  things  did  he  leave.  He  was  acquainted 
with  all  of  the  arts  and  sciences.  He  was 
brought  in  contact  with  all  of  the  leading  men 
and  honor  of  his  own  land  and  all  lands,  and  yet 
all  of  these  things  Moses  casts  aside  and  becomes 
a slave. 

When  Christ  was  tempted,  it  is  said  that  Satan 
offered  him  all  of  the  nations  of  the  earth  if  he 


g6  X-TALKS  AND  OTHER  ADDRESSES. 

would  fail  down  and  worship  him.  Satan  is  a 
liar.  He  didn’t  have  all  of  these  things  to  offer 
Christ,  but  here  is  Moses  with  all  of  these  things 
in  his  grasp,  all  of  these  things  are  his  if  he  will 
only  acknowledge  himself  as  the  son  of  the 
daughter  of  Pharaoh.  And  what  does  he  get  in 
return  for  refusing?  -Forty  years  in  exile,  a 
lonely  shepherd,  tending  the  flocks  of  his  father- 
in-law  in  the  land  of  Midian.  Forty  years 
abused  and  persecuted,  as  he  led  his  people  from 
the  land  of  Egypt  to  the  borders  of  Canaan.  A 
wonderful  choice.  A remarkable  choice.  And 
that  choice  was  made  not  by  human  power 
alone,  but  by  divine  power.  “By  faith  when 
Moses  was  come  to  years  refused  to  be  called  the 
son  of  Pharaoh’s  daughter,  choosing  rather  to 
suffer  affliction  with  the  people  of  God  than  to 
enjoy  the  pleasures  of  sin  for  a season,  esteeming 
the  reproach  of  Christ  greater  riches  than  the 
treaures  in  Egypt,  for  he  had  respect  unto  the 
recompense  of  the  reward.” 

Now  let  us  see  what  application  there  is  to  this 
lesson.  Inasmuch  as  there  was  a contention  for 
the  life,  for  the  body,  for  the  services  of  Moses 
in  the  land  of  Egypt,  I infer  that  there  is  a like 
contention  for  the  life  and  the  services  of  every 
young  man  and  every  young  woman  to-day. 

I don’t  care  to  discuss  the  existence  of  a per- 
sonal devil  who,  “as  a roaring  lion  walketh  about 
seeking  whom  he  may  devour.” 

We  all  realize  that  there  are  before  us,  that  there 


ON  THE  BURIAL  OF  MOSES.  97 

are  in  the  world  two  contending  forces ; that  there 
is  a continual  struggle  between  right  and  wrong, 
between  honesty  and  expediency,  between  virtue 
and  vice.  We  realize  that  there  are  within  us  two 
contending  passions,  two  contending  natures, 
two  contending  forces,  and  when  we  would  do 
good  evil  is  ever  present  with  us.  I tell  you, 
my  young  friends,  that  Michael,  the  archangel, 
and  the  devil  are  contending  which  shall  receive 
your  services.  As  they  contended  concerning  the 
body  of  Moses  so  they  are  contending  for  you. 
Man  is  a free  moral  agent.  Before  him  is  placed 
good  and  evil,  life  and  death.  It  is  in  his  power 
to  choose  which  he  will  take,  and  while  he  is  free 
to  choose,  while  there  are  temptations  to  lead 
him  into  evil,  yet  angels  ever  guard  and  surround 
him  in  these  critical  moments.  When  a young 
man  stands  at  the  parting  of  the  way,  when  he 
hesitates  whether  to  turn  to  the  right  and  choose 
life,  or  turn  to  the  left  and  take  death,  angels 
stretch  forth  their  hands  and  lead  him  into  the 
way  of  life.  But  while  angels  plead  a crucified 
saviour  interceding,  yet  it  is  possible  for  a young 
man  to  turn  his  back  upon  the  light,  turn  traitor 
to  his  better  nature,  crush  out  all  of  the  noblest 
instincts  of  the  human  soul,  and  in  spite  of  a 
mother’s  prayers  and  a mother’s  tears  go  reeling, 
staggering,  stumbling  into  the  darkness  of  eter- 
nal night. 

Why  should  a young  man  hesitate  in  making 
this  choice?  What  is  there  before  him  between 


98  X-TALKS  AND  OTHER  ADDRESSES. 

which  to  choose?  Why  should  he  hesitate 
whether  to  enlist  under  the  black  banner  of  Satan 
or  under  the  white  banner  and  red  cross  of  Prince 
Immanuel  ? 

There  is  no  discharge  in  that  war.  The  con- 
test is  waged  continually.  Satan  can  offer  many 
of  the  pleasures  of  sin — all  of  the  pleasures  of 
sin, — a pleasant  life,  a gay  life  it  may  be,  but  in 
the  end  death.  Christ  cannot  offer  to  the  young 
man  a life  of  ease,  but  a life  of  continual  war- 
fare, of  continual  strife,  and  it  may  be  of  con- 
tinual persecution,  life  and  not  death. 

All  the  enjoyments  of  life  did  I say  are  found 
beneath  the  black  banner  of  Satan?  No,  there 
are  no  legitimate  pleasures  that  a young  man 
cannot  enjoy  in  the  Christian  life.  There  are 
no  legitimate  pleasures  that  Satan  can  offer  that 
a young  man  cannot  enjoy  in  the  Ghristian  life. 
Satan  has  nothing  to  offer  a young  man  in  this 
contention  except  misery  and  death. 

Every  sin,  young  man,  young  woman,  has 
within  it  the  seeds  of  death.  Every  physical 
pleasure  that  is  contrary  to  the  laws  of  nature 
has  within  it  the  seeds  of  physical  and  moral 
death.  Every  hour  of  enjoyment  that  is  secured 
contrary  to  the  teachings  of  the  Word  of  God 
has  within  it  the  seeds  of  moral  and  too  often 
physical  death. 

Christ  can  offer  to  a young  man  not  a life  of 
ease,  not  a life  of  peace,  not  a life  of  contentment, 
but  a life  of  strife,  a life  of  contention  for  the 


ON  THE  BURIAL  OF  MOSES.  99 

right,  and  he  can  offer  him  all  of  the  physical, 
moral,  intellectual  pleasures  of  life  that  have 
within  them  the  seeds  of  life  and  not  of  death. 

I am  aware  that  there  is  a misconception  in 
regard  to  the  Christian  life.  I am  aware  that 
young  men  and  women  sometimes  hesitate  in 
this  great  contention  between  good  and  evil,  and 
look  upon  Christian  life  too  often  as  a life  of  mis- 
ery; and  not  particularly  of  misery,  but  a life  of 
sadness  and  of  sorrow.  It  is  not  the  case. 
There  is  no  reason  why  a young  man  should  be 
sad  when  he  is  enlisted  in  the  army  of  Prince 
Immanuel.  It  is  not  a life  of  ease  of  course,  and 
I would  have  you  understand  that  it  is  a con- 
tinual warfare,  a continual  battle.  The  young 
man  in  enlisting  for  the  war  must  expect  to  meet 
temptation.  He  must  expect  to  encounter  evil 
passions,  and  unless  he  is  brave  and  courageous, 
he  will  sink  in  the  struggle  and  Satan  will  gain 
the  victory.  I don’t  believe  that  it  is  impossible 
for  a young  man,  or  for  any  one  when  he  is 
choosing  the  right  to  fall  away  and  be  seduced 
by  Satan.  We  find  that  Moses  had  fallen  away 
and  committed  sin,  and  a voting  man  must  be 
constantly  and  continually  on  his  guard. 

I cannot  tell  you  when  this  struggle  takes 
place,  but,  young  man,  young  woman,  there  is 
an  hour  in  your  life  when  there  is  a struggle  for 
mastery;  when  this  contention  takes  place  and 
you  decide  whether  you  will  give  your  life,  your 
service,  your  body  to  Michael,  the  archangel,  to 


IOO 


X-TALKS  AND  OTHER  ADDRESSES. 


Christ  or  the  devil,  that  hour  comes.  The 
decision  is  made,  and  how  it  is  made  determines 
not  only  your  welfare  in  the  world,  but  also  your 
everlasting  and  eternal  welfare. 

To-day  the  world  calls  for  Christian  young 
men.  Christian  young  men  to  carry  the  com- 
merce of  the  world;  Christian  young  men  to  do 
the  banking  of  the  world ; there  is  a demand  for 
bright,  honest  men  and  women  in  every  vocation 
of  life. 

I know  that  we  sometimes  are  discouraged. 
I know  that  there  are  times  when  we  think  that 
the  world  is  against  us.  I know  that  there  are 
times  when  we  think  that  we  cannot  do  anything, 
and  that  we  are  of  no  account  in  the  struggle,  in 
the  battle  of  life,  but  you  are  not  fighting  for  me, 
I am  not  fighting  for  you.  The  greatest  battles 
that  any  man  ever  fights  he  fights  alone.  The 
disciples  could  go  with  Christ  into  the  Garden 
of  Gethsemane,  but  he  went  alone  and  prayed 
that  agonizing  prayer  until  he  sweat  great  drops 
of  blood.  Alone  he  met  the  great  temptation. 
Alone  he  passed  that  agonizing  hour,  and  so 
while  we  stretch  forth  the  hand  of  help  and 
friends  stand  around  and  encourage  you,  yet  the 
great  battle  of  your  life  you  fight  alone.  You 
meet  the  tempter  unaided,  unassisted.  By  di- 
vine power  you  conquer,  or  you  turn  your  back 
upon  the  right  and  march  under  the  black  flag 
to  death.  Please  remember  that  you  hold  in 
your  hands  your  decision,  and  in  your  own  hand 


ON  THE  BURIAL  OF  MOSES. 


IOI 


is  your  destiny;  and  you  determine  your  own 
path,  but  that  angels  are  always  ready  to  lend  a 
helping  hand  to  assist  you,  and  they  stand 
around  to  bear  you  up,  and  they  encourage  you. 

Oh,  my  young  friends,  life  is  a great  possibil- 
ity! As  I remarked  to  a young  man  in  the  full 
bloom  of  health  and  vigor  of  manhood,  that  for 
a young  man  it  was  indeed  sweet  to  live,  and  as 
you  look  out  upon  the  world  there  are  before  you 
great  possibilities.  But  I would  have  you  real- 
ize that  these  possibilities  are  yours  only  when 
you  are  true  to  the  principles  of  right,  only  when 
you  fight  under  the  banner  of  Prince  Immanuel. 
Turn  your  back  upon  Christ,  turn  your  back 
upon  the  light  of  Calvary,  and  your  life  is  black- 
ness and  darkness  in  the  end. 

Gladstone  says  that  it  has  been  his  pleasure  to 
be  associated  in  the  past  forty  years  with  sixty 
of  the  master  minds  of  England,  and  that  all  but 
five  were  believers  in  the  Christian  religion. 
When  you  march  in  the  army  of  Christ,  you  are 
marching  with  the  greatest  and  the  noblest  and 
the  best  men  of  the  present  age.  I like  to  think 
of  Martin  Luther.  He  had  a struggle  with  the 
devil.  You  go  down  there  in  Germany  and  in 
the  old  monk’s  cell  you  will  still  see  the  mark 
on  the  wall  left  by  the  ink  bottle  that  he  threw 
at  the  devil,  when  he  came  to  seduce  him,  and 
may  we  not  believe  that  Martin  Luther,  when 
he  threw  the  bottle,  won  the  victory? 

Do  you  admire  courage?  Do  you  admire 


102 


X-TALKS  AND  OTHER  ADDRESSES. 


heroism?  You  will  find  it  nowhere  outside  of 
the  Christian  religion.  See  Martin  Luther  as  he 
goes  down  to  the  Diet  of  Worms.  Women  and 
children  stand  with  outstretched  arms,  saying: 
“Ofi,  Luther,  forsake  us  not,  stand  by  us!” 
What  does  he  do?  He  goes  down  there.  Whom 
does  he  meet  there?  Why,  sir,  there  he  meets 
the  representatives  of  the  most  cruel,  relentless, 
tyrannical  ecclesiastical  power  that  ever  enslaved 
an  ignorant  and  superstitious  people.  He  meets 
in  that  court  the  representatives  of  the  mightiest 
nation  that  ever  stretched  the  iron  scepter  over 
the  continent  of  Europe.  Luther  had  condemned 
the  practices  of  the  Roman  church.  He  was 
compelled  to  retract,  but  he  would  not  retract. 
See  him  stand  there  before  that  little  table  with 
his  hand  upon  the  Eternal  truth ; and  he  stood 
there,  a man  unawed  and  undaunted,  not  waver- 
ing one  iota.  What  matters  it  to  him  how  dark 
the  clouds  of  persecution  might  hang  over  him, 
and  how  high  the  waves  of  oppression  might  roll, 
he  realized  that  one  with  God  is  always  a major- 
ity. He  realized  that  they  might  kill  him  as  they 
did  his  friend  Zwingli  a little  later,  because  the 
ecclesiastical  power  backed  by  the  civil  power 
dominated  the  council.  “I  cannot  retract.  It  is 
true.  I cannot  retract.”  He  did  not  retract,  and 
what  was  the  result?  He  removed  the  seals  from 
the  Holy  Bible.  He  unlocked  the  shackles  from 
the  human  mind.  And  from  the  day  that  Mar- 
tin Luther  nailed  his  ninety-five  theses  to  the  door 


ON  THE  BURIAL  OF  MOSES. 


103 


of  the  old  church  at  Wittenberg,  a brave  man 
was  dared  to  think.  Oh,  sir,  when  Martin  Luther 
spoke,  he  spoke  for  you;  he  spoke  for  me;  he 
spoke  for  millions  yet  unborn ! 

“They  are  slaves  who  fear  to  speak 
For  the  fallen  and  the  weak; 

They  are  slaves  who  will  not  choose 
Hatred,  scoffing  and  abuse; 

Rather  than  in  silence  shrink 
From  the  truth  they  needs  but  think; 

They  are  slaves  who  dare  not  be 
In  the  right  with  two  or  three.” 

I tell  you,  sir,  that  the  devotion  to  right  makes 
men.  It  makes  men  brave.  Young  man,  stand 
with  your  feet  upon  the  eternal  Rock  of  Ages, 
and  build  your  campfires  upon  the  rugged  cliffs 
of  Calvary,  and  you  are  safe.  You  need  fear 
no  oppression  because  one  with  God  is  always 
in  the  majority.  You  fight  with  men  like  Luther, 
men  like  Wycliffe,  men  like  Knox.  Oh,  think  of 
that  man  Knox!  He  was  the  only  man  that  ever 
dared  to  preach  the  truth  to  the  rulers  of  Scot- 
land, and  he  made  Scotland  a people,  noted  for 
their  industry,  and  their  virtue,  and  every  good 
quality.  John  Knox  stood  alone.  One  brave 
man  revolutionized  and  changed  the  character 
of  a whole  people. 

Have  you  heard  the  story  of  the  gamin  of 
Paris?  When  Napoleon  was  at  the  height  of  his 
glory  and  was  leading  a victorious  army  to  the 
conquest  of  Europe,  Desaix,  his  boy  commander, 


104  X-TALKS  AND  OTHER  ADDRESSES. 

had  charge  of  a division,  and  in  his  service  was 
a street  gamin  whom  he  had  found  in  the  streets 
of  Paris.  He  was  a little  gamin,  and  one  in 
whom  Desaix  had  taken  an  interest  and  had 
made  a drummer  boy  in  his  division.  He  was 
with  the  army  in  Egypt.  He  was  with  the 
army  again  at  the  battle  of  Marengo.  The 
French  reinforcements  failed  to  arrive  in  time, 
and  at  about  four  o’clock  in  the  afternoon  the 
French  were  apparently  defeated.  Napoleon, 
dropping  back  from  the  lines  to  where  the  young 
commander  was  standing,  asked  him  what 
should  be  done.  “General,”  said  Desaix,  point- 
ing to  the  sun,  “there  is  yet  time  to  win  a vic- 
tory.” Napoleon  said:  “No,  sir,  we  are  de- 

feated,” and  to  the  gamin,  “Gamin,  beat  a re- 
treat.” Said  the  gamin:  “I  don’t  know  how. 

Desaix  never  taught  me  that.”  A second  time 
he  was  ordered  to  beat  a retreat,  but  replied: 
“Oh,  sir,  I don’t  know  how,  but  I can  beat  a 
charge.  Oh,  sir,  let  me  beat  a charge.  I beat 
the  charge  at  the  battle  of  the  Pyramids;  I beat 
it  again  at  the  Bridge  of  Fodi.  Oh,  sir,  let  me 
beat  the  charge.”  Napoleon  said:  “What 

shall  we  do?”  Said  Desaix:  “There  is  time  to 

win  a victory.  Gamin,  beat  the  charge.”  And 
the  little  child  beat  with  such  ardor  on  the  battle 
field  that  the  very  dead  seemed  to  spring  up,  and 
with  the  gamin  at  the  head  they  beat  down  the 
first  rank,  and  the  second,  and  the  third,  and  the 
next,  and  then  there  was  confusion  on  Marengo, 


ON  THE  BURIAL  OF  MOSES.  105 

and  a glorious  victory  had  been  won.  The 
French  army  was  victorious.  An  historian 
speaks  of  the  hundred  days  in  Italy,  the  conquest 
of  Italy,  the  defeat  of  the  Austrians,  but  not  one 
word  about  Desaix  and  the  street  gamin  who 
won  the  victory.  He  applauds  the  mighty 
achievements,  the  tenacity  of  Napoleon.  And 
so,  my  friends,  it  may  not  be  you  will  be  found 
an  honor  man  to  receive  the  honor  in  this  mighty 
struggle  between  right  and  wrong,  good  and 
evil,  but  we  can  beat  the  charge.  Or  if  we  can- 
not beat  the  charge,  we  can  be  one  of  those  who 
follow  in  the  ranks,  and  fall  if  it  need  be  with 
our  face  to  the  foe,  and  our  eyes  upon  the 
cross. 

But  I must  bring  these  rambling  remarks  to 
a close.  We  are  in  the  midst  of  this  struggle. 
It  would  be  very  pleasant  probably  if  we  could 
just  stop  and  get  out  of  it,  but  we  cannot  do  that, 
we  must  fight.  We  must  fight  either  yonder  un- 
der the  white  banner,  or  yonder  under  the  black 
banner.  And  if  we  look  at  this  matter  only  in 
regard  to  this  life,  it  pays  to  do  right.  It  pays 
to  be  a Christian.  But  I cannot  solve  the  great 
mysteries  of  life,  if  death  ends  all.  Take  the  life 
of  Moses,  my  friends.  What  would  he  have 
made  if  death  ends  all?  If  there  are  any  chains 
in  the  infernal  regions  to  bar  and  lock  the  gate- 
ways of  the  tomb,  then  Moses  made  a great  mis- 
take. If  Moses  gave  up  all  of  the  luxuries  and 
pleasures  of  the  Egyptian  court  to  spend  forty 


106  X-TALKS  AND  OTHER  ADDRESSES. 

years  in  exile,  and  forty  years  as  leader  of  a re- 
bellious people,  I say  if  that  was  the  end  of  Moses 
that  he  made  a mistake. 

There  are  correlations  of  physical  forces. 
There  are  correlations  of  spiritual  forces  to  prove 
that  death  does  not  end  all.  We  cannot  enter 
into  a discussion  of  that  subject,  but  death  does 
not  end  all,  and  there  is  no  philosophy  that  can 
explain  the  matter.  Come,  ye  agnostic,  and  tell 
me  what  did  Moses  gain.  Nothing.  Nothing. 
He  had  nothing  to  gain  if  death  ended  all. 
Come,  ye  Christian  philosopher,  and  tell  me  what 
did  Moses  gain,  and  he  says  a tenantry  in  God’s 
boundless  universe.  To-night  as  Moses  looks 
down  through  the  broken  archways  of  the  cen- 
turies, and  sees  the  many  mighty  nations  that 
have  risen,  flourished  and  passed  away,  and  on 
the  other  hand  the  Law  which  he  received  from 
God  on  Mount  Sinai,  the  corner-stone  of  every 
enlightened  and  civilized  nation,  he  realizes  in- 
deed that  truth  is  mighty  and  will  prevail,  and 
in  the  end  that  through  countless  centuries  right 
shall  triumph  and  evil  go  down.  We  shall  live. 
Yes,  millions  of  years  somewhere  and  somehow. 
What  you  say  and  do  to-day  will  leave  an  im- 
press upon  your  character  “when  stars  and  suns 
have  set  to  rise  no  more.” 

Why,  sir,  suppose  that  in  120  years  a man 
might  build  up  a nation  and  lead  a people  as 
Moses  did,  a 120  years  is  indeed  a short  span  in 
the  history  of  the  world  and  the  countless  years 


ON  THE  BURIAL  OF  MOSES.  107 

of  eternity.  And  if  I believed  that  death  ended 
all,  and  there  was  no  light  to  pierce  the  darkness 
of  the  tomb,  I wouldn’t  care  whether  -I  lived  or 
not.  I don’t  care  to  discuss  the  question  in  re- 
gard to  the  nature  of  the  future  life,  but  let  us 
ask  Paul,  that  mighty,  Christian  apostle,  what 
did  he  receive.  “Of  the  Jews,  five  times  received 
I forty  stripes  save  one.  Thrice  was  I beaten 
with  rods,  once  was  I stoned,  thrice  I suffered 
shipwreck,  a night  and  a day  I have  been  in  the 
deep;  in  journeyings  often,  in  perils  of  water,  in 
perils  of  robbers,  in  perils  of  mine  own  country- 
men, in  perils  of  the  heathen,  in  perils  in  the  city, 
in  perils  in  the  wilderness,  in  perils  in  the  sea, 
in  perils  among  false  brethren ; in  weariness 
and  painfulness,  in  watchings  often,  in  hunger 
and  thirst,  in  fastings  often,  in  cold  and  naked- 
ness.” That  is  what  he  received.  We  have 
life;  we  may  have  a life  of  suffering  and  anxiety, 
and  yet  he  says  this  when  he  writes  to  the 
brethren  at  Corinth,  and  now  from  the  prison  at 
Rome  he  writes  to  Timothy:  “I  have  fought 

a good  fight,  I have  finished  my  course;  I have 
kept  the  faith;  henceforth  there  is  laid  up  for  me 
a crown  of  righteousness  which  the  Lord,  the 
righteous  judge  shall  give  me  at  that  day.”  It 
is  true  that  Nero  could  silence  his  tongue  of  fire, 
but  the  mighty  heart  of  the  great  apostle  beats 
sacred  music  in  a thousand  Christian  pulpits. 
Ask  the  martyrs  from  Stephen  to  the  Armenian 
peasants  who  recently  perished;  ask  those  who 


108  X-TALKS  AND  OTHER  ADDRESSES. 

endured  the  agonies  and  cruelties  and  persecu- 
tions at  the  stake,  and  all  of  the  agonies  and  suf- 
ferings inflicted  by  the  Spanish  inquisition: 
‘‘Does  it  pay  to  live  the  life  of  a Christian?”  Let 
us  ask  the  beloved  apostle  what  he  thinks  about 
the  matter.  What  vision  opened  up  before  him  as 
he  sat  alone  on  the  isle  of  Patmos?  “What  are 
these  which  are  arrayed  in  white  robes  and 
whence  came  they?”  Listen  to  his  answer. 

“These  are  they  which  came  out  of  great  tribu- 
lation, and  have  washed  their  robes  and  have 
made  them  white  in  the  blood  of  the  Lamb. 
Therefore  are  they  before  the  throne  of  God, 
serving  Him  day  and  night  in  His  temple,  and 
He  that  sitteth  upon  the  throne  shall  dwell  among 
them,  and  they  shall  hunger  no  more,  neither 
thirst  any  more,  neither  shall  the  sun  light  on 
them,  nor  any  heat;  and  there  shall  be  no  more 
death,  neither  sorrowing  nor  crying;  neither 
shall  there  be  any  more  pain,  for  the  Lamb  which 
is  in  the  midst  of  the  throne  shall  feed  them  and 
shall  lead  them  unto  living  fountains  of  water, 
and  God  shall  wipe  away  all  tears  from  their 
eyes.” 

So  there  is  a future  choice  placed  before  us 
to-night.  God  offers  you  life  and  death  to-night. 
He  places  before  you  good  and  evil,  and  it  is  in 
your  power  to  choose  life  and  live,  or  to  choose  a 
life  of  pleasure  and  in  the  end  death. 

May  God  in  His  infinite  mercy  help  each  one 
of  you  to  decide  for  the  right,  each  one  of  you  to 


ON  THE  BURIAL  OF  MOSES.  109 

cast  your  lot  for  the  truth,  and  to  fight  nobly, 
valiantly  and  bravely  the  battle  until  you  fall  vic- 
torious with  your  eyes  upon  Calvary,  and  be 
received  into  the  regions  of  eternal  glory. 


ADDRESSES  DELIVERED 
BEFORE  THE  GRADUATING  CLASSES  OF  THE 
SHENANDOAH  NORMAL  COLLEGE. 

CLASS  OF  ’84. 

We  have  now  reached  the  first  turning  point 
in  the  history  of  the  Shenandoah  Normal  College. 
A year,  with  all  its  joys  and  sorrows,  lessons 
learned  and  recited,  now  lies  behind  us.  The 
scroll  is  rolled  together,  and  we  record  finis  at 
the  close  of  the  first  year’s  work.  To  me  it  has 
been  a year  in  which  pleasure  and  disappointment 
were  strangely  mingled — full  of  strange  scenes 
and  many  pleasing  incidents.  To  you  I trust  it 
has  not  been  unpleasant.  Associations  have  been 
formed  that  will  exert  an  influence  as  lasting  as 
time  itself.  The  work  done  here  has  left  an  im- 
pression upon  your  minds  and  character  that 
cannot  be  effaced. 

You  are  not  the  same  persons  you  were  when 
you  entered  school  one  year  ago.  You  are 
stronger  in  every  way,  and  now  grasp  new  truths, 
that  then  you  could  not  comprehend.  Life  is 
more  real  to  you  than  ever  before.  Though  the 
past  may  appear  as  beautiful  and  enchanting  as 
the  music  of  a dream;  though  the  future,  gilded 
by  the  sunlight  of  hope,  may  shine  with  radiant 
hi 


1 12 


X-TALKS  AND  OTHER  ADDRESSES. 


splendor,  yet  you  realize  that  “life  is  real,  life  is 
earnest,”  and  unless  you  perform  well  the  duties 
of  the  present,  and  add  something  to  the  enjoy- 
ment of  others,  it  would  have  been  far  better  for 
humanity  had  you  never  lived. 

You  have  completed  the  Teachers’  Course  of 
study  prescribed.  We  confer  upon  you  these 
diplomas  as  an  appreciation  of  your  faithfulness 
as  students  and  as  an  evidence  of  the  work  you 
have  accomplished.  This  is  not  the  end,  but  only 
the  beginning  of  life’s  work.  The  question  is  not, 
What  have  you  done?  but,  What  can  you  do? 
Many  things  remain  unknown.  Each  year  new 
truths  are  being  revealed.  Science  delves  deeper 
into  the  mysteries  of  earth,  astronomy  pierces  far- 
ther into  the  regions  of  space,  the  intellect  of  man 
soars  with  stronger  wings,  and  yet  the  great  mys- 
tery of  the  unknown  is  still  unsolved.  The  world 
is  waiting  to  receive  her  master.  Many  avenues 
to  success  are  open  to  the  young  person  of  energy 
and  ambition.  No  earnest  effort  put  forth  in  a 
good  cause  can  ever  be  lost. 

No  person  will  ever  be  any  better  than  his 
ideal.  Every  act  of  our  lives  is  but  carving  “our 
bright  ideal  in  the  marble  real.”  Some  may  copy 
after  the  warrior  who  leads  his  conquering 
legions  to  battle  and  to  victory;  some  may  imitate 
the  daring  of  the  statesman  who  boldly  defends 
the  right  when  demagogues  remain  silent;  others 
may  take  for  their  hero  the  man  of  letters,  who 
writes  as  if  by  the  inspiration  of  heaven,  or  the 


CLASS  OF  '84. 


H3 

scientist,  who  reveals  the  mystery  of  life  and  na- 
ture. All  these  ideals  are,  perhaps,  ennobling; 
but  there  is  a higher  ideal — the  ideal  of  true  man- 
hood, as  portrayed  by  the  life  of  that  meek  and 
lowly  personage,  who  “spoke  as  never  man 
spake.”  No  young  person  can  have  a higher  am- 
bition in  life  than  to  be  a true  man  or  a true 
woman.  There  is  something  in  such  a character 
that  calls  forth  the  admiration  of  all.  It  is  the 
foundation  of  every  successful  career  in  life. 
Without  it  we  can  accomplish  nothing  that  will 
be  lasting.  He  who  strives  to  be  a man  cannot 
make  a failure  of  life.  To  be  a true  man  as  the 
world  goes,  is  to  be  one  man  among  ten  thou- 
sand. Every  vocation  in  life  is  waiting  to  receive 
men  and  women  to  fill  up  the  ranks. 

Great  men  are  those  who  have  convictions; 
men  who  believe  they  are  in  the  right,  arid  have 
an  abiding  faith  that  in  the  end  truth  must  tri- 
umph over  error.  If  you  would  succeed  in  life, 
you  must  be  sincere.  Engage  in  no  work  in 
which  you  are  not  interested.  The  heart  must 
feel  the  truth  of  the  sentiment  before  the  thought 
can  move  the  feelings  of  others.  No  man  has 
ever  yet  been  truly  great  who  did  not  believe  he 
was  in  the  right.  Truth  gives  courage  to  the 
heart,  and  nerves  the  arm  to  strike  a fiercer  blow. 
Falsehood  shrinks  in  time  of  trial,  and  cowardly 
hides  among  her  worshippers. 

True  greatness  consists  in  doing  well  the  work 
that  is  placed  before  us.  Many  of  our  names 


1 14  X-TALKS  AND  OTHER  ADDRESSES. 

will  remain  unrecorded,  and  the  story  of  our 
deeds  will  never  grace  the  pages  of  our  country’s 
history.  It  is  the  common  lot  of  most  men  to 
live  a lowly  life,  to  die,  and  be  forgotten.  Some 
of  the  bravest  deeds  have  been  performed  by 
nameless  heroes.  But  a true  life  is  none  the  less 
glorious  because  its  deeds  are  unrecorded.  He 
who  does  the  best  his  circumstances  will  permit 
acts  nobly. 

“What  does  it  matter,  when  life  has  passed, 

And  the  record  is  made  of  evil  and  good; 

What  does  it  matter,  when  Death’s  shadow  is 
cast, 

If  some  one  can  say,  ‘she  hath  done  what  she 
could.’  ” 

As  you  now  leave  these  sacred  halls,  hallowed 
by  the  memories  of  the  past,  by  one  year’s  faith- 
ful work  in  the  school  room,  with  all  its  trials, 
cherished  hopes  and  blighted  ambitions,  and  go 
forth  to  battle  with  the  stern  realities  of  life,  be 
true  to  yourself,  carry  with  you  the  elements  of 
true  manhood  and  womanhood,  and  your  life  will 
be  successful.  Your  alma  mater  will  watch  your 
future  course  in  life  as  a fond  and  loving  mother. 
She  will  rejoice  with  you  in  prosperity,  and  grieve 
over  each  misstep  you  make,  as  only  a mother 
grieves  over  the  waywardness  of  a loving  son  or 
daughter. 

It  is,  indeed,  sweet  to  live,  but  life  is  something 
more  than  mere  existence.  All  is  not  pleasure. 


CLASS  OF  '85. 


115 

The  beautiful  visions  of  childhood  soon  fade 
away.  No  one  has  ever  yet  made  a success  of 
life  but  what  some  hearts  have  ached,  some  hands 
have  bled. 

There  are  many  bright  stars  in  the  northern 
skies,  but  there  is  but  one  Polar  Star,  by  which 
the  mariner  steers  his  vessel  safely  across  the 
boisterous  sea.  There  are  many  courses  marked 
out  through  the  wilderness  of  life,  but  there  is 
only  one  straight  and  narrow  path  that  leads  to 
success  and  happiness.  Take  your  reckoning 
by  the  bright  star,  Rectitude,  be  true  to  the  prin- 
ciples of  right,  and  you  will  pass  safely  over  all 
the  difficulties  in  the  pathway  of  life.  Be  true  to 
thyself.  Think  wisely,  act  nobly,  do  the  best  thy 
circumstances  will  permit,  and  thy  life  will  be 
glorious,  thy  death  triumphant. 

CLASS  OF  ’85. 

Again  Commencement  Day  has  come.  An- 
other year  has  gone.  The  lessons  have  been 
recited,  the  work  is  ended,  but  the  result  is  not 
yet  revealed.  You  know  not  how  great  an  in- 
fluence this  one  year’s  work  may  have  upon  your 
destiny.  The  impressions  you  have  received  can 
not  be  forgotten.  They  will  cling  to  you  while 
life  shall  last,  either  inspiring  to  nobler  deeds  in 
the  future,  or  dragging  you  down  to  shame  and 
dishonor.  From  the  Shenandoah  Normal  Col- 
lege many  of  you  will  reckon  your  course  in  life. 
It  will  be  the  golden  milestone  from  which  all 


Il6  X-TALKS  AND  OTHER  ADDRESSES. 

distances  are  measured.  Here  we  trust  you  have 
received  an  inspiration,  a spirit  of  work  that  will 
enable  you  to  surmount  all  difficulties  and  finally 
crown  your  life  with  success. 

You  have  completed  the  course  of  study  pre- 
scribed in  this  institution.  We  confer  upon  you 
these  diplomas,  not  as  an  evidence  that  all  the 
studies  have  been  completed,  but  as  an  evidence 
that  you  have  been  faithful  students.  We  have 
taught  you  but  few  things.  Life  is  so  short,  and 
so  great  are  the  wonders  of  science  and  the  mys- 
teries of  nature  that  we  have  time  to  master  but 
few  things.  Each  year  the  intellect  of  man  makes 
new  conquests,  hypotheses  are  proven  true  or 
false,  but  yet  the  region  of  the  unknown  sur- 
rounds us  on  all  sides. 

This  is  no  time  for  rest.  You  pass  from  school 
life  upon  the  duties  of  life’s  school.  What  you 
have  accomplished  should  be  but  a stepping  stone 
to  something  nobler  and  grander  in  the  future. 
Each  year  should  add  something  to  your  store 
of  knowledge.  All  nature  will  administer  to  your 
wants  if  you  will  but  bravely  perform  each  pres- 
ent duty. 

Think  not  that  life  is  only  a summer  dream. 
Life  is  real.  The  world  has  no  sympathy.  It  ex- 
pects every  man  to  do  his  duty.  Fortune  favors 
only  the  brave.  He  who  would  win  success  must 
work — not  idly  fold  his  hands.  A coward  heart 
will  ne’er  perform  a noble  deed,  and  such  should 
not  expect  a hero’s  just  reward.  The  hand  of 


CLASS  OF  ’85. 


11 7 

Fate  can  never  bind  to  earth  the  soul  of  him  who 
seeks  to  rise.  Resolve  and  work — work  bravely 
for  the  right.  You  need  not  live  a useless  life. 
There  is  some  work  for  you  to  do.  There  are 
no  blanks  in  the  great  lottery  of  life.  There  is 
no  chance.  You  are  to  determine  your  own  fu- 
ture. Time,  life  and  opportunities  are  given  to 
all  out  of  which  they  shape  their  own  characters. 
All  things  are  ruled  by  law.  Can’t  is  a coward, 
and  can  is  a hero.  If  you  fail,  if  you  can  add 
nothing  to  the  happiness  of  others,  it  is  because 
you  are  not  willing  to  pay  the  price  of  success. 
Nothing  worthy  can  ever  be  accomplished  with- 
out great  labor.  Idleness  produces  nothing  but 
misery  and  want.  Genius  is  nothing  more  than 
the  ability  to  labor  earnestly.  The  world’s  bene- 
factors have  all  been  great  workers.  They  have 
opened  the  way,  removed  the  difficulties,  and 
others  have  only  followed.  If  you  have  not 
learned  the  sweet  pleasures  of  a life  of  constant 
toil,  earnest,  devoted  work,  you  have  missed  the 
most  important  part  of  a Normal  training.  Labor 
is  king.  They  are  noblest  who  do  most  for  hu- 
manity. 

There  will  always  be  some  to  shirk  their  duties. 
They  wait  while  others  work.  One-sixth  of  the 
people  conduct  the  business  of  the  world.  The 
others  do  but  little.  Envy  not  the  lot  of  the  five- 
sixths,  but  rather  aim  to  be  one  of  the  few  who 
coin  the  passing  moments  into  jewels  of  thought 
or  ornaments  of  character.  Each  day  should 


Il8  X-TALKS  AND  OTHER  ADDRESSES. 

make  you  stronger.  Perhaps  you  may  often  be 
required  to  do  more  than  your  duty,  but  do  it 
bravely.  It  is  well  to  be  able  to  give  more  to  the 
world  than  you  ask  of  others. 

Difficulties  are  in  the  way.  I would  not  de- 
ceive you.  Life  is  a struggle.  A constant  battle 
is  being  waged  between  right  and  wrong,  honesty 
and  expediency.  Only  the  valiant  can  succeed. 
Brave  hearts  and  willing  hands  can  surmount 
many  obstacles.  Pie  who  hesitates  will  surely 
fail.  Stand  for  the  right.  Do  not  yield.  Know 
not  defeat  in  a just  cause.  Truth  and  right  will 
triumph. 

Man  is  never  satisfied.  In  every  human  breast 
there  are  longings  for  something  still  unknown. 
He  who  has  no  aspirations  for  something  nobler 
in  the  future  is  but  little  better  than  the  beasts  of 
the  field  that  perish.  Each  new  conquest  in  the 
realms  of  science  brings  to  view  other  mysteries 
that  before  were  unseen.  The  finite  ever  reaches 
out  toward  the  infinite.  It  matters  not  how  wise 
or  profound  you  may  become,  there  will  still  be 
loftier  heights  beyond.  Ever  onward,  ever  up- 
ward, never  resting,  strive  after  all  that  is  true 
and  noble  in  character.  Let  the  past  be  but  the 
means  of  acquiring  something  better  in  the  fu- 
ture. 

Have  some  aim  in  life.  Live  for  some  purpose. 
A life  without  an  aim  can  never  be  successful. 
Let  your  first  ambition  be  to  be  true  men  and 
women.  Waste  no  time  in  idle  dreaming.  You 


CLASS  OF  ’85. 


1 19 

can  be  what  you  wish  to  be.  Every  day  ought 
to  bring  you  nearer  your  ideal.  It  matters  not 
in  what  vocation  you  may  be  engaged,  if  you 
are  true  to  yourself  and  the  principles  of  right, 
your  life  will  not  be  in  vain.  Though  unknown 
and  unhonored,  your  influence  for  good  will  live 
forever.  However  humble  your  lot  may  be,  how- 
ever exacting  the  work  in  which  you  are  engaged, 
bear  in  mind  that  the  man  should  honor  the  call- 
ing and  not  the  calling  the  man. 

As  you  now  go  out  from  the  Normal  our  best 
wishes  go  with  you.  In  whatever  work  you  may 
engage  we  hope  to  hear  of  your  success.  Many 
difficult  lessons  have  been  recited,  and  many 
pleasant  hours  have  been  spent  in  the  class  room. 
But  all  is  now  ended.  Some  of  you  will  be  with 
us  no  longer.  But  we  trust  and  believe  that,  as 
you  now  depart  from  this  hall,  you  go  from  us 
stronger  and  better  men  and  women  than  you 
were  a year  ago.  Amid  the  busy  cares  of  life, 
may  memory  revert  to  these  sacred  scenes  with 
pleasure  and  not  with  sorrow.  You  now  engage 
upon  the  duties  of  life.  We  do  not  fear  that  you 
will  make  a failure,  but  rely  not  upon  your  own 
strength.  Temptation  will  meet  you  at  unex- 
pected moments.  The  bravest  have  fallen,  and 
many  strong  men  have  been  conquered.  In  the 
darkest  hours,  when  vice  seems  to  triumph  over 
virtue  and  wrong  to  usurp  the  throne  of  right, 
despair  not.  Keep  close  to  Him  who  said,  “Let 
not  your  heart  be  troubled,”  and  all  will  be  well. 


120 


X-TALKS  AND  OTHER  ADDRESSES. 


CLASS  OF  ’86. 

Upon  occasions  of  this  kind  but  little  need  be 
said.  The  year's  work  is  now  ended.  If  we  have 
been  unfaithful,  nothing  that  can  be  said  at  this 
time  can  atone  for  neglected  duties.  If  in  our 
work  we  have  not  impressed  upon  your  minds 
the  true  principles  of  life,  those  impressions  can 
never  be  made.  Words,  however  eloquently  ut- 
tered, thoughts,  however  beautifully  expressed, 
can  not  be  compared  with  deeds. 

What  is  said  at  this  time  may  soon  be  for- 
gotten, but  the  silent  influence  of  our  associations 
will  cling  to  you  forever.  There  is  a mystic  bond 
that  unites  teachers  and  students.  Standing  here 
at  the  close  of  another  year,  amid  scenes  that  re- 
call the  incidents  of  the  past,  we  realize  how  weak 
indeed  is  language.  It  is  ever  impossible  to  ex- 
press the  inmost  feelings  of  the  human  soul. 

The  noblest  thoughts  remain  unsaid; 

The  sweetest  notes  are  never  sung; 

The  deepest  grief  reveals  no  tears. 

And  purest  love  calls  forth  no  vows. 

In  school  life  light  and  shadow  are  strangely 
mingled.  Many  difficulties  have  been  encoun- 
tered, many  obstacles  overcome,  and  yet  we  have 
but  tasted  of  the  intoxicating  waters  of  knowl- 
edge ; we  have  plucked  but  a few  flowers  from  the 
field  of  science,  while  all  around  us  are  the  mys- 
teries of  earth,  air  and  heaven. 


CLASS  OF  ’86. 


121 


These  diplomas  are  not  an  evidence  that  you 
have  mastered  all  things,  but  that  you  have  been 
faithful  students.  We  cannot  in  a few  months 
comprehend  all  the  beauties  of  a proposition  that 
required  many  years  of  faithful  study  for  its 
demonstration.  There  are  many  difficulties  and 
disappointments  in  life.  Could  we  cover  up  the 
rugged  places  in  your  pathway  and  strew  your 
course  in  life  with  flowers,  it  would  not  be  kind- 
ness for  us  to  do  so.  Man  is  like  the  diamond. 
The  precious  gem  seems  only  an  ordinary  pebble 
when  picked  up  on  the  seashore,  but  when  cut 
and  polished  it  is  the  most  resplendent  of  all  the 
jewels  that  deck  the  coronet  of  an  oriental 
princess.  So  it  is  with  man.  The  spark  of 
divinity  in  the  human  soul  needs  temptations, 
trials  and  persecutions  to  develop  the  power  that 
lies  concealed.  These  difficulties,  though  hard 
and  cruel  they  may  seem,  may  make  of  that  little 
spark  of  divinity  one  of  the  brightest  angels  of 
heaven.  When  your  work  in  life  seems  greater 
than  you  can  bear,  and  difficulties  surround  you 
on  all  sides,  thank  God  and  take  courage. 

Life  is  indeed  sweet.  To  our  childhood  the 
Future  revealed  naught  but  pleasure.  Plans  were 
then  formed,  and  we  waited  for  the  realization  of 
our  hopes.  The  beautiful  structures  we  built  in  air 
were  grander  by  far  than  the  mansions  of  Italy's 
sunny  plains;  more  magnificent  than  the  castles 
that  look  down  upon  the  classic  Rhine.  But, 
alas!  how  soon  the  cruel  hand  of  Fate  shattered 


122 


X-TALICS  AND  OTHER  ADDRESSES. 


the  foundation,  and  the  beautiful  structure,  with 
sky-reaching  towers,  fell  to  the  earth,  and  we 
awoke  from  the  sweet  dream  of  childhood,  real- 
izing- that  life  is  real,  and  that  those  who  would 
be  strong  must  suffer  and  endure. 

So  it  will  be  in  life.  Many  of  our  most  cher- 
ished plans  will  fail,  and  bright  anticipations  will ' 
fade  away  as  the  air  castles  of  childhood.  But 
never  be  discouraged.  The  disappointments  and 
blighted  hopes  of  life  ought  only  to  make  you 
stronger. 

As  you  now  go  forth  in  life  we  shall  not  forget 
you.  Pleasant  memories  will  ever  be  associated 
with  the  past  year’s  work.  But  we  dwell  not 
upon  the  Past,  but  look  to  the  Future. 

It  matters  not  in  what  work  in  life  you  may 
engage,  it  matters  not  how  disinterested  your 
motive,  there  will  always  be  some  to  find  fault, 
and  to  condemn  your  actions.  But  in  the  darkest 
hour  stand  firmly  upon  virtue,  truth  and  right, 
where  the  tongue  of  calumny  cannot  reach  you, 
where  the  venom  of  slander  cannot  injure  you; 
and  with  faith  in  God  and  confidence  in  your  own 
powers,  may  each  one  of  you  live  a true  and  noble 
life. 

CLASS  OF  ’87. 

Another  milestone  has  been  reached.  We  stop 
for  a moment  to  review  the  past  and  catch  a 
glimpse  of  the  future.  Though  the  record  has 
been  written  and  must  remain  forever  unchanged, 
yet  from  the  mistakes  and  achievements  of  the 


CLASS  OF  ’87. 


123 


past  we  may  receive  an  inspiration  to  nobler 
deeds  in  the  future.  The  many  hours  of  study, 
the  lessons  learned  and  recited  during  the  past 
year  cannot  soon  be  forgotten.  The  year’s  work 
has  been  one  of  preparation.  You  have  been 
sowing  seed  and  will  reap  the  fruit  of  your  labor 
in  all  time  to  come.  During  the  past  year  you 
have  received  impressions  that  will  cling  to  you 
forever.  In  the  hour  of  your  most  brilliant 
achievements  and  in  the  day  of  disappointments 
you  will  recall  most  vividly  the  incidents  of  the 
past  year.  With  these  memories  may  there  al- 
ways come  renewed  strength  and  vigor. 

Your  work  is  not  ended.  It  has  only  begun. 
There  is  no  rest  in  life.  Action  is  inscribed  upon 
all  the  work  of  Nature.  Man  ever  strives  after 
the  unknown,  and  finds  rest  only  in  the  grave. 
You  have  some  ambition  in  life,  some  long 
wished-for  ideal  towards  which  you  are  striving. 
Let  that  ambition  be  a noble  one,  and  by  a uni- 
versal law  of  nature,  each  day  you  will  become 
stronger. 

No  man  can  be  a nonentity.  He  must  either  be 
a blessing  or  a curse  to  his  associates.  Each  one 
determines  for  himself  what  station  in  life  he 
shall  occupy.  Riches  and  poverty,  virtue  and 
vice,  life  and  death  are  placed  before  all  from 
which  each  may  make,  to  a great  extent,  his  own 
selection.  But  I would  not  deceive  you.  Youth 
is  buoyant.  The  iris-hued  bow  of  Hope  spans 
and  overreaches  every  future  scene.  Standing 


124  X-TALKS  AND  OTHER  ADDRESSES. 

here  at  this  time,  life  seems  as  sweet  and  enchant- 
ing as  the  music  of  a dream.  But  it  is  not  always 
so.  Life  is  a constant  struggle.  He  who  would 
nobly  live  must  never  fear  to  bravely  die. 

Expect  but  little  from  the  world.  Those  who 
do  most  for  humanity  receive  no  thanks.  The 
people  have  ever  killed  their  benefactors.  Only 
by  the  glare  of  the  burning  stake  can  be  read  the 
history  of  the  world’s  progress.  The  groans  of 
expiring  martyrs  have  ever  been  the  prophecy  of 
a nobler  future.  Public  opinion  can  never  be  a 
safe  rule  for  action.  Never  sacrifice  principle  for 
the  unthinking  applause  of  the  moment.  The 
same  people  who  shouted,  “Hosanna,  Hosanna 
in  the  highest,  Blessed  is  the  King  that  cometh 
in  the  name  of  the  Lord,”  in  a few  days  cried  out, 
“Crucify  him,  crucify  him.” 

Truth  alone  is  immortal.  When  duty  leads 
you  to  denounce  a popular  evil  and  to  uphold  an 
unpopular  truth,  may  you  never  falter.  One  man 
standing  upon  the  principles  of  truth  is  more 
powerful  than  the  combined  armies  of  all  the 
nations  of  earth.  Empires  may  crumble  to  dust; 
Governments  may  perish,  but  the  principles  of 
truth  will  survive  amid  the  wreck  of  nations.  The 
echo  of  Luther’s  hammer  is  still  heard  as  he  nails 
his  ninety-five  theses  against  the  old  church  door 
in  Wittenburg.  When  in  the  right  a man  may 
well  laugh  at  opposition.  God  and  Time  will  al- 
ways vindicate  the  truth. 

The  age  of  persecution  has  not  yet  ended.  The 


CLASS  OF  ’87. 


125 


day  of  martyrdom  is  still  here.  The  right  of  free 
thought,  free  speech  and  a free  press,  means  to 
many  persons,  simply  the  right  to  think,  to  speak 
and  to  write  as  they  do.  Legislative  assemblies 
even,  in  our  own  fair  land  have  passed  resolu- 
tions offering  a reward  for  the  head  of  an  Ameri- 
can citizen  whose  sole  crime  was  his  convictions 
and  the  unanswerable  manner  in  which  he  pro- 
claimed what  he  believed  to  be  true. 

There  are  times  when  it  will  require  courage  to 
stand  by  the  truth,  but  he  who  fears  to  express 
his  honest  convictions  and  turns  traitor  to  the 
truth  that  lies  nearest  his  own  heart,  is  unworthy 
the  name  of  man.  Better  to  die  a martyr  to  what 
you  believe  to  be  right  than  to  purchase  long 
life  and  riches  by  the  sacrifice  of  principle.  While 
fearless  in  the  advocacy  of  what  you  believe  to 
be  right,  respect  the  opinion  of  others.  Human- 
ity is  liable  to  err.  The  judgment  of  no  man  is 
infallible.  The  foulest  crimes  have  been  com- 
mitted in  the  name  of  Liberty,  and  the  most  re- 
lentless persecution  carried  on  to  the  glory  of 
Him  who  first  taught  the  great  lesson  of  charity. 

There  is  a demand  for  men,  men  who  think 
and  dare  to  act.  Time  and  again  has  society  been 
agitated  by  the  conflict  between  labor  and  capital; 
the  red  flag  of  communism  has  been  unfurled  in 
many  of  our  leading  cities;  the  corruption  of 
money  in  elections  is  no  longer  denied,  but  jus- 
tified by  the  most  fallacious  reasoning. 

These  are  but  few  of  the  evils  that  demand  the 


126  X-TALKS  AND  OTHER  ADDRESSES. 

attention  of  the  American  citizen.  Dynamite  and 
nihilism  has  shaken  the  strongest  governments 
in  Europe.  Our  free  institutions  must  be  vindi- 
cated before  the  world.  Wise,  cool-headed,  con- 
servative men  are  needed  in  every  vocation. 
How  else  can  these  evils  be  averted?  Public 
opinion  must  be  moulded,  the  public  conscience 
must  be  educated,  and  this  work  must  be  done 
by  the  graduates  of  our  colleges  and  universities. 
There  is  a place  and  a work  for  you.  Fold  not 
your  hands,  but  go  forward  and  be  something  and 
do  something  to  make  the  world  better. 

The  year’s  work  is  ended.  As  you  now  go  out 
in  life,  our  best  wishes  go  with  you.  These 
diplomas  will  soon  fade  and  be  cherished  only  as 
fond  mementoes  of  the  past.  They  are  only  an 
evidence  that  you  have  done  some  faithful  work. 
Amid  the  busy  scenes  of  life  you  must  be  your 
own  diploma.  We  believe  that  you  will  not  falter 
nor  fail  when  the  most  is  expected  of  you.  In  the 
battle  of  life  depend  not  upon  the  empty  honors 
of  a degree  nor  upon  the  proud  lineage  of  a name. 
By  your  own  exertions  you  must  carve  out  your 
destiny  and  by  untiring  energy  pluck  bright  suc- 
cess from  the  hands  of  Fate. 

CLASS  OF  ’88. 

Advice  given  on  occasions  of  this  kind  is  not 
long  remembered,  and  does  but  little  good.  Lit- 
erature is  filled  with  suggestions  for  those  who 
wish  to  make  a success  of  life.  All  seem  ready 


CLASS  OF  ’88. 


127 


to  tell  young  people  what  they  should  do  to  win 
renown.  But  most  of  their  advice  is  misleading. 
Young  people  are  told  to  aim  high,  and  take  for 
their  motto:  ‘‘There  is  room  at  the  top.”  No 
one  is  bound  to  earth  and  he  who  wishes  to  suc- 
ceed in  life  should  be  ambitious  and  have  aspira- 
tions for  something  nobler  than  he  has  ever 
known. 

But  there  is  such  a thing  as  aiming  too  high. 
Much  time  and  energy  is  wasted  in  striving  after 
the  unattainable.  Too  many  young  people  have 
become  discontented  and  gone  into  professions 
for  which  they  are  not  prepared.  The  result  is 
that  all  the  so-called  honorable  professions  have 
become  crowded  by  mediocre  young  men  who 
have  aimed  high  and  endeavored  to  reach  the 
top.  It  is  far  nobler  to  succeed  in  an  humble  vo- 
cation than  to  fail  in  an  honored  profession.  Fail- 
ure is  ignoble — yea,  it  is  criminal  when  it  is  the 
result  of  a wrong-  idea  of  life. 

Aim  not  so  high,  but  aim  steady.  Have  some 
well-defined  object  in  life  and  you  will  always  find 
room  wherever  you  can  do  good  work.  You  may 
meet  with  difficulties  and  encounter  opposition, 
but  a devoted  adherence  to  some  special  work  for 
which  you  have  been  prepared,  will  always  bring 
with  it  strength  and  success.  Life  is  a constant 
warfare  in  which  neither  truce  nor  quarter  is 
given.  Each  man’s  worst  enemy  is  himself.  The 
great  battle  of  life  is  fought  alone  and  unseen. 
The  world  knows  not  of  the  struggle  that  is 


128  X-TALKS  AND  OTHER  ADDRESSES. 

waged  in  every  human  breast.  It  gives  no  aid 
to  the  right  and  lends  no  strength  to  the  truth. 
By  a law  of  nature,  each  must  meet  the  enemy 
alone.  He  who  conquers  is  a victor  indeed.  He 
who  overcomes  his  own  corrupt  nature  and  evil 
passions,  need  fear  no  difficulties  in  life,  for  God 
and  truth  are  upon  his  side.  By  the  light  of  his- 
tory we  see  the  hero  of  the  tented  field,  the  victor 
of  a hundred  battles,  the  proud  conqueror  of  a 
hundred  kingdoms,  fall  and  acknowledge  defeat 
when  brought  face  to  face  with  his  own  depraved 
appetite  and  evil  passions.  The  hero  of  the 
world,  he  could  not  conquer  himself. 

Let  your  first  battle  in  life  be  the  conquest  of 
self.  Have  your  heart  right,  and  you  need  have 
no  fears  of  the  result.  In  this  age  of  progress 
fortunes  are  made  and  lost  in  a day.  There  are 
many  business  transactions  that  are  not  strictly 
honest,  and  even  sin  is  winked  at  in  high  places 
But  no  financial  success  or  worldly  fame  can 
atone  for  the  loss  of  character.  Linder  no  cir- 
cumstances can  you  ever  afford  to  do  anything 
that  is  low  and  mean.  Vice  is  corruption,  virtue 
is  strength.  God  and  time  are  always  upon  the 
side  of  truth.  Every  man’s  character  must  be 
tested  in  the  crucible  of  time.  Only  that  which 
is  true  and  noble  can  stand  the  test.  Each  day 
should  some  victory  be  won ; each  day  you  should 
gain  strength  by  correcting  the  mistakes  of  the 
past. 

Aim  not  so  much  at  what  will  bring  honor,  but 


CLASS  OF  ’89. 


I29 


engage  in  that  work  where  you  can  do  most  for 
humanity.  Every  deed  performed  for  the  welfare 
of  others  is  a noble  deed.  Look  not  for  a life  of 
ease.  They  are  greatest  who  do  most  for  others. 
Those  who  would  lead  men  first  serve  them. 

Your  success  in  life  depends  chiefly  upon  your 
own  efforts.  No  diploma,  no  certificate  of  merit, 
no  golden  medal  of  distinction,  can  take  the  place 
of  genuine  old-fashioned  work. 

As  you  go  out  in  life  our  best  wishes  go  with 
you.  We  want  to  hear  of  your  success.  Rely 
not  upon  the  assistance  of  others,  but  depend 
upon  your  own  efforts.  In  the  darkest  hour  ad- 
here to  the  principles  of  truth,  and  your  life  will 
be  noble,  your  death  triumphant. 

CLASS  OF  ’89. 

Nothing  need  be  said  at  this  time.  The  year’s 
work  is  now  ended.  The  personal  contact  of 
teachers  and  students  in  the  class  room  and  in 
the  social  relations  of  life  has  left  an  influence 
that  will  cling  to  you  forever.  That  influence 
cannot  be  changed.  Life  has  come  in  contact 
with  life,  and  new  hopes  and  new  ambitions  now 
rise  before  us. 

As  you  go  out  from  these  walls  to  engage  in 
the  active  duties  of  life  we  trust  that  you  take 
with  you  nobler  aims  and  higher  ideals  of  life. 
The  value  of  a collegiate  or  normal  education 
depends  not  alone  upon  the  knowledge  acquired. 
Not  the  man  that  has  mastered  the  most  books 


I30  X-TALKS  AND  OTHER  ADDRESSES. 

is  always  the  most  successful.  It  is  not  knowl- 
edge, but  the  ability  to  acquire  knowledge  that 
gives  power  and  strength  to  the  individual.  Edu- 
cation is  not  for  show,  but  for  usefulness.  In 
normal  education  culture  and  utility  go  hand  in 
hand.  It  should  not  be  your  ambition  to  astonish 
people  by  your  accomplishments,  but  to  help 
them.  That  knowledge  that  does  not  make  you 
more  useful  in  your  day  and  generation  is  of  no 
importance. 

The  knowledge  acquired  in  school  cannot  be 
compared  with  the  importance  of  true  mental 
culture,  correct  habits  of  thought  and  a right 
conception  of  your  place  and  responsibility  in 
the  world.  The  spirit  of  investigation  and  inde- 
pendent thought  that  you  have  acquired  and  de- 
veloped in  your  course  of  study  will  ever  be  to 
you  an  element  of  strength.  In  whatever  voca- 
tion you  may  engage  still  adhere  to  normal  prin- 
ciples and  always  read,  think  and  investigate  for 
yourself.  He  is  a nonentity  who  delegates  his 
thinking  to  others. 

What  you  are  and  what  you  can  do  will  deter- 
mine your  success  in  life.  By  your  work  you 
must  be  willing  to  be  judged,  and  justice  demands 
no  other  standard  of  merit.  The  same  spirit  of 
earnest  devoted  labor  that  you  have  displayed  in 
the  school  room  will  remove  many  of  the  obsta- 
cles from  your  pathway  in  life.  This  is  a practical 
age.  No  one  stops  to  help  him  who  has  not  the 
courage  to  do  and  dare.  Your  friends  and  neigh- 


CLASS  OF  ’89. 


131 

bors  have  a right  to  expect  you  to  be  more  useful 
members  of  society.  The  time  you  have  spent 
at  the  Normal  should  make  you  a power  for  good 
in  your  community.  Shirk  not  the  duties  and 
responsibilities  of  life.  Do  not  think  that  your 
days  of  study  are  over.  There  can  be  no  rest  in 
nature.  However  successful  you  may  be  in  your 
work,  rest  not.  There  are  still  higher  and 
grander  fields  of  attainment. 

But  neither  knowledge  nor  the  ability  to  ac- 
quire knowledge  is  the  most  important  part  of  an 
education.  Character  is  the  one  thing  that  sur- 
vives amid  the  wreck  of  empires  and  the  crash 
of  words.  Be  what  you  would  seem.  Stand  by 
what  you  believe  to  be  right.  There  is  always  a 
demand  for  young  people  of  noble  character. 
Even  honesty  has  a commercial  value.  Corpora- 
tions are  seeking  men  in  whom  they  can  confide 
important  interests.  The  question  asked  is  not 
what  does  the  applicant  know,  but  is  he  reliable? 
No  present  gain  or  prospect  of  future  advance- 
ment should  induce  any  one  to  do  what  is  even 
questionable. 

Those  who  adhere  to  what  they  believe  to  be 
right  when  it  is  unpopular  for  them  to  do  so  al- 
ways find  a place  in  the  world.  Too  many  per- 
sons are  willing  to  make  a compromise  with  sin. 
A compromise  with  evil  means  surrender.  He 
who  yields  and  turns  traitor  to  his  conscience  and 
the  promptings  of  his  better  nature  is  lost. 
Truth  and  falsehood  are  eternal  opposites.  They 


132  X-TALKS  AND  OTHER  ADDRESSES. 

never  walk  side  by  side.  They  are  the  two  great 
antagonistic  forces  in  the  moral  world.  There  is 
no  neutral  ground  and  between  these  forces  there 
can  be  no  truce. 

What  is  morally  wrong  can  never  be  socially 
right.  The  maxim  that  the  end  justifies  the 
means  is  false  in  theory  and  ruinous  in  practice. 
Whatever  may  be  the  interests  at  stake  nothing 
is  gained  by  a departure  from  the  strict  rules  of 
rectitude.  Honesty  of  purpose,  nobility  of  char- 
acter, purity  of  thought  and  perseverance  in  ac- 
tion is  a shield  and  a helmet  to  every  young  per- 
son who  encounters  the  adverse  influences  of  life. 

Our  daily  papers  are  filled  with  the  record  of 
vice  and  crime  in  all  its  disgusting  details.  The 
story  is  told  in  a flippant  manner  as  if  it  were  a 
mere  misdemeanor  or  thoughtless  act  and  not  a 
violation  of  both  moral  and  natural  law.  Sin  is 
not  always  condemned,  but  is  frequently  winked 
at  and  sometimes  even  condoned.  Public  opin- 
ion is  not  always  a safe  rule  of  action.  Listen  not 
to  the  delusive  enticements  of  sin,  but  amid  ail 
temptations  and  evil  environments  and  corrupt 
influences  keep  your  record  clear.  When  vice 
seems  to  triumph  over  virtue  and  iniquity  ap- 
parently usurps  the  throne  of  righteousness  fear 
not,  fail  not.  The  everlasting  stars  of  Truth, 
Purity  and  Right  still  hold  their  places  in  the 
center  of  the  moral  heavens.  By  them  steer  your 
course  and  with  faith  in  an  allwise  Father  and 
confidence  in  your  own  strength  strive  on,  strive 


CLASS  OF  ’90.  133 

ever,  and  when  you  fall  friends  and  neighbors 
will  rise  up  and  call  you  blessed. 

CLASS  OF  ’90. 

It  is  not  always  wise  to  give  advice.  However, 
at  this  time  a few  words  of  counsel  may  not  be 
out  of  place  for  one  who  is  deeply  interested  in 
your  welfare.  Standing  here  to-night  it  is  well  to 
scrutinize  carefully  the  events  of  the  past.  To 
know  the  past  is  to  be  prepared  for  the  future. 

What  you  accomplish  in  life  depends  upon 
what  you  have  already  done,  what  object  you 
have  in  view,  and  the  manner  in  which  you  en- 
gage in  that  work.  Countless  thousands  fail  be- 
cause they  know  not  their  own  powers  and  have 
no  well  defined  object  in  life.  They  drift  with  the 
tide,  because  they  have  not  the  courage  to  stem 
the  current.  It  requires  a brave  man  to  surmount 
obstacles.  He  must  have  faith  in  the  cause  he  ad- 
vocates and  confidence  in  himself. 

When  once  you  have  entered  upon  a course  of 
action  which  you  believe  to  be  just  and  right 
press  on.  Keep  your  eyes  upon  the  eternal  stars 
and  go  forward.  Never,  never,  never  falter.  To 
stop  is  cowardice;  to  turn  back  is  treason.  Turn 
not  aside  for  the  allurements  of  pleasure;  heed 
not  the  enticements  of  vice;  enter  into  no  entang- 
ling alliances  with  sin;  “keep  your  record  clean.” 
The  straight  path  of  rectitude  and  right  is  al- 
ways the  safest.  The  Golden  Apples  of  Hes- 
perides  grow  not  upon  the  Plains  of  Sodom. 


134  X-TALKS  AND  OTHER  ADDRESSES. 

The  jewels  of  character — truth,  purity  and  right 
— are  not  reflected  in  the  murky  pools  of  sin  and 
vice.  To  gain  the  prize  of  life  it  is  not  necessary 
to  engage  in  questionable  transactions.  As  you 
now  go  out  from  these  halls  to  engage  in  the 
various  vocations  of  life  our  best  wishes  go  with 
you.  We  believe  that  you  will  not  fail.  In  what- 
ever work  you  may  engage  aim  not  so  much  sim- 
ply to  excel,  but  always  do  your  best.  Go  forward 
then  with  faith  in  God  and  faith  in  the  final  tri- 
umph of  the  right,  and  never  fear  to  do  and  dare 
for  the  cause  of  truth  and  justice. 

CLASS  OF  ’91. 

Each  age  has  its  own  pressing  duties  and  pecu- 
liar dangers.  The  hopes  and  ambitions  of  man 
take  their  color  from  the  time  in  which  he  lives. 
He  who  dreams  only  of  the  grandeur  of  the  past 
can  have  no  part  in  the  glory  of  the  future.  The 
duties  of  the  present  have  no  time  for  idle  boast- 
ing. 

This  is  an  age  of  mighty  achievements.  Science 
pierces  eternal  depths  of  space;  counts,  weighs 
and  measures  unseen  stars.  Even  the  frozen  re- 
gions of  the  North  yield  their  secrets  and  science 
claims  dominion  over  all.  In  no  other  age  has 
man  so  subdued  nature  and  shown  his  mastery  of 
the  world. 

The  inventive  genius  of  man  has  made  easy 
hitherto  impossibilities.  In  every  profession  and 
vocation  of  life  is  felt  the  fierce  struggle  for  su- 


CLASS  OF  ’91. 


135 


premacy.  The  slow  going  methods  of  the  past 
will  not  answer  the  demands  of  the  age  of  electric 
lights  and  aerial  navigation.  All  men  are  in  a 
hurry  to  reach  the  goal  and  wear  the  laurel 
wreath  of  success.  And  in  this  eagerness  for  for- 
tune and  for  fame  is  the  peculiar  danger  of  our 
own  time.  In  their  haste  to  reach  the  end  men 
too  often  disregard  the  means. 

The  fiercer  the  contest  the  greater  the  need  of 
strong,  brainy  men  and  women.  He  who  stands 
when  many  fall  not  only  proves  his  own  strength 
but  is  a refuge  to  which  the  weaker  ones  may 
cling.  In  every  age  honesty  of  purpose  and  con- 
viction commands  a premium.  The  man  whose 
word  is  not  as  good  as  his  bond  needs  to  be 
watched.  He  who  is  honest  simply  from  policy 
is  dishonest  from  policy.  It  is  worth  any  man’s 
best  endeavor  to  enter  the  arena  of  life  and  win 
success.  No  other  age  has  offered  so  many  in- 
ducements to  the  man  of  exalted  ambition  and 
undaunted  courage. 

The  grandeur  of  Greece  and  the  glory  of  Rome 
grow  pale  and  dim  in  comparison  with  the  bright 
heritage  of  the  present.  Wander  not  then  among 
the  graveyards  of  the  past,  but  journey  up  the 
sunlit  mountains  of  the  future.  Be  willing  to 
give  every  man  a fair  show.  Neither  underrate 
nor  misrepresent  your  competitor.  Meet  fairly 
every  contestant  for  honor,  and  do  not  for  the 
sake  of  any  seeming  advantage  stoop  to  what  is 
low  and  mean.  Have  faith  in  your  own  integrity, 


136  X-TALKS  AND  OTHER  ADDRESSES. 

in  the  justness  of  your  cause,  and  in  the  final 
triumph  of  right.  In  every  work  let  merit  be 
your  watchword  and  win  by  fair  means  or  win  not 
at  all. 

Stand  by  the  right.  Make  no  compromise  with 
evil  and  yield  to  no  wrong.  It  is  such  men  who 
move  forward  the  hands  on  the  great  clock  of 
progress  and  leave  everywhere  evidence  of 
thought  and  action.  To  be  weak  is  cowardly, 
to  be  brave  is  to  be  strong. 

In  short,  enter  upon  the  duties  of  life  as  be- 
comes brave  men  and  women.  Consider  well 
every  action.  Have  an  object  in  all  you  do.  Rec- 
ognize your  own  weakness  and  have  an  abiding 
faith  in  your  own  ability.  In  the  day  of  your 
most  brilliant  achievements  and  in  the  night  of 
your  darkest  defeat,  bow  in  humble  submission 
to  the  wisdom  that  framed  the  world,  and  lean 
for  strength  upon  the  Almighty  Arm  that  upholds 
the  universe. 

CLASS  OF  ’92. 

That  times  change  and  men  change  with  them 
is  nowhere  more  true  than  in  the  teacher’s  pro- 
fession. The  old  idea  that  the  pupil  was  for  the 
school  and  not  the  school  for  the  pupil  is  no 
longer  advocated  by  any  one.  Nor  is  that  mate- 
rialistic education  that  attempted  to  make  of  the 
child  a mere  automaton  to  be  acted  upon  by  the 
teacher  any  longer  popular.  The  child  is  now 
recognized  as  the  important  factor  in  both  the 


CLASS  OF  ’92. 


137 


work  of  education  and  of  civilization.  His  feel- 
ings and  his  emotions  are  not  to  be  disregarded. 

That  system  of  education  that  does  not  recog- 
nize as  a fundamental  principle  that  there  is  a 
God  at  the  center  of  the  Universe  and  a soul  as 
the  center  of  man  is  false  in  theory  and  ruinous  in 
practice.  That  cold,  calculating  theory  that  sees 
in  man  nothing  more  than  a very  subtle  organiza- 
tion of  matter,  satisfies  not  the  inquiring  mind. 

Man  is  free.  He  is  a complex  being  controlled 
and  directed  by  his  emotions  as  well  as  by  his 
judgment.  What  a man  thinks  and  believes 
determines  his  character  and  his  destiny.  Let 
him  who  would  be  noble  keep  his  heart  pure  and 
his  mind  clean. 

A man’s  worth  in  the  world  depends  not  upon 
the  extent  of  his  knowledge,  nor  upon  culture 
and  experience.  Character  has  a commercial 
rating.  There  is  always  something  about  a suc- 
cessful man  that  can  neither  be  weighed  nor  an- 
alyzed. It  is  his  individuality,  his  magnetism, 
his  soul.  Whatever  may  be  the  philosophy,  it  is 
a recognized  fact  that  a man  is  valuable  in  any 
profession  or  vocation  only  to  the  extent  that  he 
can  put  himself  in  his  work. 

Every  successful  achievement,  every  enduring 
edifice,  every  ennobling  organization  is  the  result 
of  some  one  who  thought  and  felt  and  acted.  We 
stand  entranced  before  the  canvas  and  the  sculp- 
tured marble  because  we  see  there  portrayed  what 
to  the  artist  was  most  real  and  most  true.  We  are 


138  X-TALKS  AND  OTHER  ADDRESSES.' 

thrilled  by  the  musician’s  masterpiece  because 
we  feel  in  the  grand  symphonies  the  pulsations  of 
his  throbbing  heart. 

With  a cultured  mind  and  skillful  hand,  there 
should  always  go  a heart  that  can  be  touched  by 
the  hopes  and  disappointments  of  others.  It  is 
as  important  to  feel  right  as  it  is  to  think  right. 

As  you  go  out  in  life  “To  thine  own  self  be 
true.”  Copy  after  the  Great  Master  and  be  your- 
self. Your  individuality  must  be  to  you  more 
than  all  else.  When  you  are  true  to  what  you  feel 
and  believe,  it  matters  not  if  you  are  not  always 
popular.  No  question  is  ever  finally  settled  until 
it  is  settled  right.  The  cause  that  is  now  pro- 
nounced weak  and  helpless  may  in  the  end  be 
stronger  and  more  terrible  “than  an  army  with 
banners.” 

Fate  is  against  no  man  who  is  not  against  him- 
self. Even  the  stars  in  their  courses  fight  for 
him  who  contends  for  truth  and  not  for  fame. 
When  life  and  its  work  is  ended,  then  shall  we 
realize  that  nothing  is  of  any  worth,  that  nothing 
is  enduring,  that  is  not  founded  upon  the  eternal 
principles  of  truth,  virtue  and  right. 

CLASS  OF  ’93. 

Commencement  day  is  always  of  peculiar  in- 
terest. It  is  a time  when  we  look  both  to  the  past 
and  to  the  future — back  to  the  failures  and  tri- 
umphs of  the  school  room ; forward  to  the  greater 
difficulties  and  nobler  achievements  of  life.  This 


CLASS  OF  ’93. 


139 


is  commencement  day — not  the  end,  but  the  be- 
ginning. An  education  that  is  ended  is  neither 
useful  nor  ornamental.  The  value  of  an  educa- 
tion depends  upon  what  it  is.  A mere  knowl- 
edge of  science,  of  mathematics  and  of  language, 
however  complete,  is  not  a practical  education. 
This  is  a utilitarian  age.  The  demand  is  for  men 
who  not  only  know  but  who  also  feel.  Character 
is  more  important  than  knowledge.  In  all  ages 
of  the  world  manhood  has  been  at  a premium. 

We  stand  in  awe  beside  the  rugged  mountain 
that  rears  its  head  to  the  very  clouds;  with  ad- 
miration man  beholds  the  waves  of  the  sea  as  they 
beat  with  almost  resistless  fury  against  the  rocky 
coast;  in  all  ages  from  vale  and  hilltop  have  shep- 
herd boys  and  born  scientists  gazed  with  rap- 
ture upon  the  heavens  as  they  endeavored  to 
number  the  countless  stars,  and  yet  far  greater 
than  any  or  all  of  these  is  man,  the  crowning 
work  of  creation.  Man  standing  alone,  stronger 
than  the  mountains,  purer  than  the  sea  and 
brighter  than  the  stars.  And  yet  the  glory  of 
man  is  not  in  his  physical  strength,  nor  in  the 
swiftness  of  his  flight,  in  the  gracefulness  of  his 
motions,  nor  in  the  keen  perception  of  his  senses, 
for  in  all  these  is  he  surpassed  by  the  lovers  of 
creation.  Nor  is  it  in  the  power  of  his  intellect 
though  he  may  weigh  words  unseen  and  render 
easy  hitherto  impossibilities.  But  it  is  in  his  kin- 
ship with  God.  It  is  that  subtle  something  that 


140  X-TALKS  AND  OTHER  ADDRESSES. 

can  neither  be  analyzed  nor  defined  that  makes 
man  the  ruler  and  master  of  the  world. 

To  be  a man  with  nobleness  of  character  and 
purity  of  purpose  is  to  be  the  grandest  thing  be- 
neath the  stars.  It  may  not  always  be  popular  to 
be  on  the  right  side.  In  fact  it  sometimes  seems 
as  if  strict  integrity  was  not  desirable,  but  these 
apparent  contradictions  pass  away  as  the  shadow 
of  a dream,  and  it  is  still  the  man  behind  the  word 
that  gives  it  power  and  life. 

The  great  epic  poem  of  humanity  illustrating 
the  brotherhood  of  man  and  the  triumph  of  right 
over  wrong,  of  reason  over  prejudice  has  not  yet 
been  written.  The  world  awaits  her  master.  The 
day  of  martyrdom  is  not  yet  past.  The  history 
of  the  world’s  prayers  might  be  written  in  the 
blood  of  those  who  lived  and  died  true  to  a prin- 
ciple and  a cause  they  believed  to  be  right  and 
just.  He  who  would  save  his  life  must  be  willing 
to  be  forgotten  if  only  his  work  may  live. 

You  now  go  out  from  school  to  prove  to  the 
world  what  you  can  do.  Difficulties  await  you 
at  every  step  of  the  journey.  Do  not  waste  your 
strength  over  the  petty  annoyances  of  life.  Con- 
tend not  for  victory  when  no  principle  of  right 
is  at  issue.  Save  your  energy  for  great  emer- 
gencies. Life  now  is  indeed  sweet;  fair  is  the 
sky  of  the  future;  no  clouds  are  upon  the  horizon, 
and  yet  how  soon  may  misfortune  and  disaster 
crowd  thick  and  fast  upon  you.  How  soon  may 
you  find  opposition  where  you  now  expect  assist- 


CLASS  OF  ’94. 


141 

ance,  and  the  whole  issue— success  or  failure — 
devolve  upon  you.  In  that  hour  may  your 
strength  fail  not.  Though  you  bend  yet  may  you 
not  break. 

Go  forth  then  in  the  strength  of  your  divine 
kinship  and  with  the  courage  of  true  manhood. 
Turn  not  your  back  upon  truth.  Make  your  life 
noble  and  then  your  death  will  indeed  be  vic- 
torious. 

CLASS  OF  ’94. 

Commencement  days  are  the  golden  milestones 
in  the  history  of  a school.  As  the  years  come 
and  go  all  the  fond  recollections  of  school  life 
cluster  around  these  occasions.  They  not  only 
mark  the  progress  that  has  been  made,  but  they 
serve  as  an  inspiration  to  the  nobler  achieve- 
ments and  the  greater  triumphs  of  the  future. 
Amid  garlands  of  flowers  and  the  best  wishes 
of  friends  old  and  new  the  members  of  another 
graduating  class  go  out  to  test  their  strength  in 
the  battle  of  life.  We  try  not  to  read  the  future, 
and  we  can  only  say,  “God  bless  you,  God  speed 
you.” 

It  has  been  well  said  that  school  life  is  only  a 
preparation  for  life’s  school.  In  no  age  of  the 
world’s  history  has  this  been  more  true  than  at 
the  present  time.  Many  remedies  for  existing 
evils  have  been  suggested,  but  the  perpetuity  of 
the  government  and  the  safety  of  society  can  be 
secured  by  no  othfer  means  than  by  a sanctified, 


142  X-TALKS  AND  OTHER  ADDRESSES. 

Christian  education.  Knowledge  is  not  always 
power,  nor  is  science  and  philosophy  always  a 
mark  of  wisdom.  Intellectual  development  is  an 
uplifting  and  controlling  power  only  when  it  has 
received  the  imprint  and  seal  of  Him  who  created 
man  in  his  own  image.  Man  is  weak  until  he  can 
think  God’s  thoughts  and  is  willing  to  be  simply 
the  means  for  the  accomplishment  of  divine  ends. 

Paul  sitting  at  the  feet  of  Gamaliel  that  he 
might  become  familiar  with  the  beauties  of  the 
Jewish  religion,  understand  the  contradictions  of 
the  traditions  of  the  elders  and  comprehend  all 
the  subtleties  of  the  Greek  and  Roman  Philoso- 
phy, is  indeed  the  model  student.  Paul  going 
down  to  Damascus,  though  armed  with  ecclesi- 
astical authority,  to  bring  bound  to  Jerusalem 
all  who  might  be  found  proclaiming  the  teachings 
of  the  new  religion  attracted  but  little  attention 
and  was  but  little  feared.  But  Paul  standing  amid 
the  sacred  temples  on  Mars  Hill  and  declaring  to 
the  representatives  of  all  nations  the  Unknown 
God  whom  they  ignorantly  worship  is  a scene  of 
moral  grandeur  and  intellectual  power  without 
a parallel  in  the  world’s  history.  With  a philoso- 
phy far  more  profound  and  logical  than  the 
learned  Socrates  taught  to  his  pupils  amid  the 
groves  of  Athens,  and  with  an  eloquence  far  more 
impressive  and  persuasive  than  the  Philipics  the 
mighty  Demosthenes  hurled  against  the  conquer- 
ing King  of  Macedon  he  answered  all  questions, 
met  all  objections,  overthrew  all  sophistry,  and 


CLASS  OF  ’95. 


M3 


boldly  proclaimed  the  Martyr  of  Calvary  as  the 
light  of  the  world  A tyrant  claimed  his  head; 
and  his  lips,  though  touched  with  the  burning 
coals  of  eloquence,  have  long  since  been  silent, 
but  the  heart  of  the  great  Apostle  to  the  Gentiles 
still  beats  sacred  music  in  a thousand  Christian 
pulpits. 

Paul’s  power  was  in  a comprehensive  intellec- 
tual education  sanctified  by  the  zeal  and  enthu- 
siasm of  a holy  purpose.  Analyze  the  question 
as  you  will  and  nothing  can  take  the  place  of  en- 
thusiasm. He  who  would  succeed  must  believe 
that  he  is  right  and  be  willing  to  show  his  faith, 
not  only  by  his  works,  but,  if  necessary,  by  his 
death.  Without  zeal,  without  faith  all  knowledge 
is  lifeless. 

Go  forth,  then,  young  friends,  to  battle  and  to 
conquest.  Inscribe  on  your  banners  truth,  purity 
and  right.  Ask  not  rest,  but  strength  to  labor  on. 
Great  indeed  may  be  your  achievements  in  the 
field  of  letters  and  in  the  realm  of  science,  but 
however  illustrious  your  victories  never  be  too 
wise,  nor  yet  too  proud  to  sit  at  the  feet  of  Him 
in  whose  hands  are  the  issues  of  life  and  death, 
and  in  whose  touch  is  the  healing  of  the  nations. 

CLASS  OF  ’95. 

Truth  is  many-sided.  The  finite  mind  cannot 
comprehend  truth  in  all  its  completeness.  It  is 
indeed  the  glory  and  majesty  of  the  Infinite  One. 
For  this  reason,  all  minds  are  one-sided;  all  per- 


144  X-TALKS  AND  OTHER  ADDRESSES. 

sons  more  or  less  eccentric.  All  do  not  perceive 
the  same  truth,  nor  are  they  equally  impressed 
with  its  power.  It  is  in  this  that  the  real  power  of 
a man  lies.  When  we  are  like  others,  we  are 
weak.  It  is  only  in  things  in  which  we  are  pecu- 
liar that  we  are  strong.  A man’s  power  and  in- 
fluence in  the  world  is  in  his  individuality.  Much 
has  been  said  of  the  beauty  and  grandeur  of  the 
all  round  man.  It  sounds  nice,  but  such  men  are 
seldom  practical.  It  is  the  one-sided  angular 
man  who  can  push  his  way  through  the  crowd, 
while  the  well  rounded  man  succeeds  best  in  sim- 
ply holding  his  own.  It  is  the  wild  enthusiast, 
the  fanatic,  if  you  will,  who  has  faith  in  himself 
and  the  cause  he  represents,  who  reforms  the 
world  and  starts  revolutions. 

He  who  would  lead  must  be  willing  to  die  for 
the  truth  that  he  most  clearly  comprehends. 
Faith  is  a controlling  power  in  the  physical  as 
well  as  in  the  spiritual  world. 

Be  yourself.  Have  faith  in  yourself,  but  think 
not  that  you  comprehend  all  the  truth,  and  that 
he  who  sees  differently  must  be  either  an  igno- 
ramus or  a fool.  When  you  are  in  the  right,  you 
can  afford  to  be  charitable. 

All  manner  of  intellectual  sins  may  be  for- 
given, save  that  of  littleness.  For  that,  there  is 
no  pardon.  The  man  who  sees  no  good  outside 
of  his  own  party,  no  virtue  outside  of  his  own 
church,  no  excellence  outside  of  his  own  com- 
munity and  nothing  of  merit  in  what  he  has  no 


CLASS  OF  ’96. 


145 


interest  in  is  to  be  pitied,  because  for  him  there 
is  no  hope.  He  secures  neither  intellectual  su- 
premacy nor  physical  happiness.  He  is  himself 
the  center  of  all  his  hopes  and  his  ambitions,  and 
the  poor  deluded  man  never  realizes  the  sordid- 
ness and  utter  littleness  of  his  life. 

Lay  broad  and  deep  the  foundations  of  a noble 
character.  Lay  strong  and  secure  the  rudiments 
of  intellectual  culture.  Follow  with  your  face  to 
the  light,  the  faint  glimmerings  of  truth.  Let 
“Upward  still  and  onward”  be  your  motto,  regard- 
less alike  of  the  sneers  of  the  indifferent  and  re- 
proach of  friends.  With  truth  for  a guide  and  as 
a shield,  fear  nothing  save  to  do  evil,  and  when 
at  last  life  and  its  turmoils  are  ended,  He  who 
sees  the  sparrow  fall  will  place  upon  your  brow 
the  victor’s  crown. 

CLASS  OF  ’96. 

BY  MRS.  G.  W.  HOENSHEL. 

The  circumstances  which  have  placed  me  be- 
fore you  to-night  are  so  different  from  the  past, 
that  I have  felt  at  liberty  to  make  some  digression 
in  the  regular  order  of  addresses.  As  these  com- 
mencement exercises  close  the  first  chapter  in 
the  history  of  this  institution,  I shall  call  your 
attention  to  the  last  thirteen  years  of  the  Shen- 
andoah Normal  College: 

“Backward,  turn  backward,  oh,  time,  in  thy 
flight,” 

And  tell  us  of  struggles  and  triumphs  to-night 


146  X-TALICS  AND  OTHER  ADDRESSES. 

The  Normal  encountered  from  the  present  right 
down 

To  the  day  of  its  birth  in  old  Middletown. 
September  4th,  in  the  year  ’83, 

Began  a new  era  for  you  and  for  me, 

And  many  look  back  to  that  day  who  are  glad. 
While  some  look  back  to  that  day  and  are  sad. 
Still  stands  that  old  building  where  this  Normal 
school 

Began  its  strange  life  with  one  simple  rule. 

I’ll  tell  it  to  you  who  leave  us  to-night, 

It’s  two  little  words,  just  simply  “do  right.” 
Unfurled  on  our  banner  is  co-education, 

True  worth  is  the  standard  whatever  the  station, 
And  laddie  and  lassie,  the  rich  and 'the  poor, 

Are  welcomed  alike  at  this  college  door. 
Outgrowing  its  home,  the  school  did  not  stay 
In  the  place  of  its  birth.  Four  years  passed  away, 
Then  it  moved  up  the  Valley  to  Rockingham 
county, 

Receiving  no  aid  and  asking  no  bounty. 

But  struggled  right  on  the  school  to  maintain. 
And  trusted  to  merit  for  aid  or  for  gain. 

Success  in  a measure  attended  us  there, 

But  buildings  unsuited  still  gave  us  some  care, 
And  the  hope  had  been  cherished,  not  wishing  to 
roam, 

To  gain  for  the  school  a permanent  home. 

There  comes  in  each  life — I believe  it  must  be — 
That  inborn  desire  for  one’s  own  “vine  and  fig 
tree.” 

So  the  future  looked  bright,  good-byes  hard  to 
say, 

Are  often  forgotten  when  hope  leads  the  way. 
For  new  Basic  City  inducements  now  ofTered, 
And  the  Normal  accepted  the  home  that  was  prof- 
fered. 

Prosperity  smiled,  and  though  it  seemed  strange, 


CLASS  OF  ’96.  147 

The  Normal  increased  with  the  move  and  the 
change. 

Success  never  seemed  half  so  near  to  our  door, 
Prosperity  never  so  dear  and  so  sure. 

Vain  hope!  You  promised  a respite  from  care, 
That  burdens  should  lift,  so  grievous  to  bear, 
How  health  should  be  gained  in  the  home  now 
secured, 

The  past  with  its  cares  no  longer  endured. 

But  you  sealed  from  our  sight,  if  the  future  you 
knew, 

The  dire  disaster  which  followed  us,  too. 

Now  memory  lingers  o’er  one  celebration 
The  day  for  Columbus  with  its  bright  decoration 
Of  bunting  and  flags,  how  proudly  they  waved, 
The  one  now  before  you  the  only  one  saved! 

-For  there  came  unexpected,  one  night  about  ten, 
The  wild  cry  of  fire — how  it  startled  us  then! 

No  warning  came  with  it,  just  simply  to  go, 
Leave  our  home  to  its  fate,  each  heart  to  its  woe. 
Do  you  know  what  it  is  for  one  moment  to-  stand 
Facing  your  life’s  work  while  like  footprints  in 
sand 

The  billows  dash  in  from  some  far  away  shore, 
And  carry  it  away  to  be  seen  nevermore? 

If  you  do,  you  know  a little  in  part 

Of  the  trials  and  sorrows  of  one  human  heart, 

Which  gave  what  it  had,  its  life  to  the  call, 

“Equal  education  for  the  poor  and  for  all.” 

Can  you  tell  me  to-night  what  you  would  each  do 
Should  a trial  like  this  come  to  any  of  you? 

Not  a trial  of  fire,  but  a trial  of  fate, 

As  a child  of  the  Normal  don’t  sit  down  and  wait, 
For  favor  or  friends  to  carry  you  through, 

Rely  on  yourself,  let  your  motto  be,  “Do.” 
Though  our  home  is  in  ashes  while  our  hearts 
are  not  there 


148  X-TALKS  AND  OTHER  ADDRESSES. 

Defeat  shall  not  crown  us,  we’ll  know  not  despair. 
The  burden  of  this  life’s  work  we’ll  take  up  once 
more, 

Travel  the  thorny  path  trod  oft  before. 

As  inborn  as  life  was  the  spirit  to  go,  whatever 
the  lack 

This  College  must  live;  there  is  no  way  back, 
Then  “Forward,”  the  motto,  “March,”  the  com- 
mand, 

Find  a new  home  in  our  own  native  land. 

In  spite  of  suspicion  and  doubts  of  the  people, 
The  college  is  standing  in  sight,  with  its  steeple 
Pointing  upward — “Never  look  down,” 

It  seems  to  be  saying  to  the  youth  of  our  town. 
Shall  a task  thus  begun  end  with  to-day, 

Will  you  bid  it  Godspeed  forever  and  aye? 

New  hands  shall  carry  the  work  to  its  goal, 
Though  waves  of  adversity  unceasingly  roll. 

Then  work  with  a will,  and  a pleasure  so  sweet 
We’ll  count  it  at  last,  when  all  is  complete, 

To  lay  down  the  burden  at  Jesus’  own  feet. 

This  history  recited  has  not  been  for  praise, 

But  trusting  some  lesson  might  hallow  your  days, 
When  the  story  you’ve  learned  of  your  old  Alma 
Mater 

Inspires  your  actions  and  makes  your  life  greater; 
If  your  trial  should  come  in  the  form  of  disaster, 
Keep  you  firm  and  trusting  in  the  love  of  the 
Master. 

To  you  who  are  standing  on  the  threshold  to- 
night, 

Where  the  future  unfolds  so  joyous  and  bright, 
Have  courage  for  duty.  In  the  strength  of  your 
might, 

Forget  not  your  Maker,  love  Truth  and  the 
Right, 


This  prayer  shall  go  with  you,  Oh,  God,  make 
them  strong, 

The  world  needs  their  strength,  the  lonely  their 
song. 

’Tis  finished;  the  last  of  your  lessons  are  done; 
Your  life  shall  determine  the  victories  won. 

Each  student’s  work  shall  a monument  be 
To  the  glory  or  shame  of  the  S.  N.  C. 

Forget  you!  No,  never,  though  to-morrow  you 

go. 

Once  a child  of  the  Normal,  forever  you’re  so; 
And  your  life  with  its  changes,  your  work  in- 
complete, 

We’ll  watch  you  develop  with  an  interest  sweet. 


THE  END. 


Date  Due 

Library  Bureau  Cat.  no.  Ii37 

•Wo  H694  200966 

Hoenshel 

111 

T-Tallcs  and  Ofner 

no 


H694 


200966 


